Springvale Gardens in Harewood. Nothing on library website for this street yet most of the houses date from 1990s and there is a couple from 2005 and 2008. Only 9 houses here and they are huge. Also well beyond my budget. The street is down the road from Willowbank and is where 26 to 28 Husseys Road would have been. At the end of the street there is a reserve and there is a tiny bridge that goes across a wee creek / pond. I am assuming that this is the spring that the street is named after.

Swynford Lane in Spreydon – Named after Swynford Farm in North Canterbury near Hawarden. It is part of the Horsley Downs Station. Named in 1998A small amount of information the library website. Information from the council in June 1998 said that the name of Swinford Place for 19A Hammond Place was requested and declined. Applicant reapplied and supplied more information. Swinford name was historically significant as it was the name of a farm in North Canterbury near Hawarden and part of Horsley Downs Station. Requested was granted this time. Swinford is also a town in Ireland. I also found a real estate ad for the sale of Swinford Farm as owners were retiring but couldn’t find a date for this sale. In Papers Past for the year 1893 I found marriage details for a daughter of J E Barnes of Swynford, Hawarden. Later in the same year I found the death notice for J E Barnes of Swynford, Mason’s Flat aged 63 years.I had a quick look at ancestry website and James Edward Barnes was from near London and Swynford is used as a place name in several parts of England. He had several children and I suspect that one of them owned 19A Hammond Place. This street looks like a private driveway but did have a footpath. When I was walking along Hammond Place three cars drove past me and these three cars turned into Swynford Place. The cars had several men in them and I didn’t feel comfortable or safe enough to walk this street. QV website had 11 properties listed all built in 1930s except for one built in 1920s which is really strange if the street was only named in 1998. I checked google maps as I hadn’t felt safe walking this street and the houses are definitely older places and typical of 1930s wooden houses. The house at the entrance to the street is Art Deco style.

Rowallan Lane in Spreydon – First appears in street directories in 1957. A tiny amount of information from the library website and they also have this street as Rowallan Ave. I was slightly confused as this lane runs off Andrews Crescent and I have already walked Andrews Crescent so why hadn’t I already walked it. When I got there I realised that I had walked it but not realised that it was a street. There are no houses here and no evidence of any houses but suspect there were houses at one stage. I did a some googling but couldn’t come up with anything regarding this street. This street runs through Jerrold Reserve and it is highly likely that any houses here would have been demolished when the motorway was built. It is also possible that this street was much bigger and originally called an Avenue but I couldn’t find the information with a quick google. I also couldn’t find a reason for the name but have three theories. One theory is that it is named after Lord Rowallan who toured New Zealand in 1949 when he was the Empire Chief Scout. Second theory is that there is a connection to the Deans family as they used the name Rowallan for a property that was owned by Douglas Deans and this property was practically next door to Homebush. Trouble was that I could find no evidence of the Deans family having any connection to Addington / Spreydon. I searched Papers Past and ancestry website. My third theory is that it is just a random Scottish name used as many of the streets in this area are named after places in Scotland. Rowallan is in Ayrshire and I got seriously sidetracked reading about Rowallan Castle. Lord Rowallan died at Rowallan Castle and his surname was Corbett. The castle was returned to the Campbell family in 1989. The 4th Lord Rowallan was declared bankrupt in 1993 and he actually sold the castle in 1989. He must have sold a lot of other things as I saw an auction entry for his grandfather’s war medals. Interesting family as the 3rd Lord Rowallan was disowned by his father and this was possibly because he had married a transgender woman. The marriage didn’t last.

Hammond Place in Spreydon – Developed in the subdivision of Hancock’s block. In a government housing subdivision and developed off Barrington Street to give access to the state houses to the north-west of Howard Street. Named in 1938. A small amount of information from the library website and not a lot that I can add. In April 1938 names for streets were submitted by the Director of Housing Construction Mr A Tyndall and they were approved by the council. In August 1938 it is mentioned that 22 sites will be developed on Hammond place and 10 will be brick and 4 will be plaster. Didn’t say what the rest would be built from. There was a note saying that the new road took longer to construct than expected and that the building of the houses had been delayed by bad weather. The construction firm was Paynter and Hamilton and that is a name that you hear these days. I have no idea where the name Hammond came from and is most likely to be the surname of someone connected to the housing development.There are 29 properties here and most were built in the 1930s but a few built in 1990s and one in 2019 and these later houses are all back sections. The houses are obvious state house designs and many will now be privately owned. Most are in reasonable condition and it looked like a pleasant street. There are new houses being built for Kainga Ora and I will have to confess that this would put me off living here. The new Kainga Ora houses look so cramped together whereas the old State Houses / Housing Corp houses had larger sections which would have been better for families. In saying this even private housing seems to be cramped with hardly any outdoor space but then where I live it is on the edge of the central city. In my area and other suburbs close to the central city a house will be demolished and 3 or 4 apartments built in the same space. Creates a terrible parking issue on these streets.

Macann Lane in Spreydon – Named after Reginald Edward Carson Macann (1919-1989) and his wife, Nola Olive Macann (1928-2013). The Macanns lived at 438a Barrington Street from 1949. In 2013 this address is 8 Macann Lane. From 1969 the Macanns had a market garden there with glasshouses. The original access to the house became the private laneway to provide access to the sections at the rear. The source of this information says her mother, who purchased one of the last sections, had the impression the Macanns had intended to stay at their Macann Lane property once the land had been divided up, and some of the sections were originally intended to go to their children, but they sold the lot and moved to Lyttelton Street. According to an elderly family friend, the whole area was originally farmland before the Macanns moved there. They could also remember seeing cows being walked up Howard Street on the way to the saleyards. Named on 22 March 1971. First appears in street directories in 1976. Information supplied in 2012 by Amy Roberts. Information on date of naming in a letter sent to the City Librarian from the Town Clerk dated 24 March 1971.A huge amount of information from the library website and there is nothing that I can add about the naming of the street. I probably met the Macann family from my days of working at Barrington Post Office but can’t remember them. Note I am talking about the original Post Office which was in the building where Couplands Bakery is now situated and there was an entrance to Barrington Mall here.There are 14 properties here with all being built in the 1970s except for one built in 1950. The entrance to the lane looks like a private driveway and I didn’t actually walk it last night. I did walk it in December 2019 when I was delivering the Addington Times and I remember having a lovely chat with one of the house owners. She had a gorgeous garden. Most the houses here had lovely gardens and I suspect that it is mostly retired people who live here. A lovely wee place but probably not for me as I would let the street down as I am not good at doing gardening.LikeCommentShare

McLeish Lane in Spreydon- First appears in street directories in 1993. Not a lot of information on the library website but I couldn’t find any extra information either.Every house was built in 1990s and they are all brick. Must have been the same developer who built my place. If anyone knows my place then you know what these houses look like. This street runs off Edinburgh St and I thought that I would have already written it up but it was on my list of streets that needed walking. I have no idea why the name and I searched ancestry website but couldn’t find anyone with that name living here. The street was developed at 61 Edinburgh Street. It is a surname rather than a place name and probably used to continue the Scottish theme in the area.

Willis Place in Spreydon – Named after William Henry Willis (1894?- 1959). Willis, a builder, was a resident of the street in 1950, the year it first appears in street directories. A small amount of information from the library website. Checked Papers Past and ancestry website. Couldn’t find a grave for William Willis or for his wife Ada but if they were cremated it is harder to find the records. In 1946 William and Ada were living at 60 Edinburgh St and William’s occupation was labourer. In 1954 and 1957 William was living on Middlepark Road but no Ada so I am assuming that she died. In Papers Past I found a Mr H Willis at 56 Edinburgh St and all entries related to selling eggs or chickens. It is most likely William Willis and he probably used his middle name Henry.Willis Place is where 56 to 60 Edinburgh Street would have been. Most houses date from 1940s with a couple from 1950. There are a couple of more modern places on back sections. Nothing outstanding about the houses or the street. Typical wooden houses from the 1940s and 1950s with well established gardens. A pleasant street.

Winston Avenue in Papanui- Formerly Railway Street. Named because of its proximity to the Main North Railway line. Re-named Winston Avenue. Named after The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874-1965). Railway Street first appears in street directories in 1927. Re-named Winston Avenue in 1940 in response to a petition from 20 residents of Railway Street. Churchill was a British statesman, author and prime minister.A reasonable of information from the library website and nothing that I can add about the naming of the street. I found the same information about the renaming of the street. I suspect that the old Railway Station was on Railway Street but this part of Railway Street is now part of Restell St. I would have to find old maps to prove my theory.There were several Railway Streets including one near Tuam Street plus every little town had a Railway Street. In 1924 there were many ads offering shop and business sites. In 1929 the two story factory belonging to Direct Milking Supply Company was damaged by fire. This seemed to be the main business on this street. The street seemed to have a mixture of residences and businesses. In 1927 the local council received a letter from a Mr J Joyce requesting that the street be planted with trees and that the name of the street bbe changed to Bailey’s Ave. Reply was not up to council but that the residents who live in the streets can decide. Made me wonder if Mr J Joyce didn’t actually live in the street. In 1928 a resident was offering classes in Highland Dancing.In 1928 there was discussion about a short lane be extended to join Langdon’s Road to Railway Street. This apparently would require an Act of Parliament before acquiring the land. In 1932 the discussion was about acquiring the land at the back of the police station for this project. I looked up Restell St and it is highly likely this street is the result of these discussions which is why the old railway station is now on this street.In 1935 the police station here was closed and the reason given was the amount of sickness suffered by families living in the police house. New premises to be on St James St.Couldn’t find much mention of the street on Papers Past once it became Winston Ave.The street only has businesses on it it these days and there is also a large empty section that is for sale. I personally thought that it looked rather rundown especially at the Restell St end. Thought that a photo of the old Railway Station would be good even if technically the station is now on a street with a different name

A Wikipedia page about Papanui has the police moving to St James Ave in 1949 but Papers Past has it moving in 1935. I have found out that the old police station was opposite the railway station so my theory about the railway station being on the original Railway St is looking more solid. Note Wikipedia also have Winston Ave spelt wrong and they have added an e to it.

Dormer Street in Papanui – Referred to as a “new street” in The Press in 1913. First appears in street directories in 1915. Diedrich Wilhelm Leonard Mehrtens (1882-1952), a carter, is the sole resident. A Papanui war memorial street.A small amount of information from the library website and I disagree with the information about Diedrich Mehrtens. I could find no record of Diedrich Mehrtens living in Papanui. He was born in the Rangiora area and his father who had the same name came out from Germany and settled in the Rangiora area. I thoroughly searched the ancestry website and all the addresses for this family were in Rangiora. I have no idea why the name Dormer but is was possibly the surname of someone who lived in the area but again I thoroughly searched ancestry website with no luck. I even searched for Dormar and Dormaar. In Papers Past there was a constable called Michael Dormer but I couldn’t find him on the ancestry website. I also couldn’t find anyone with that surname in local cemetery websites. Papers Past had sections for sale in 1913 and this street was mentioned frequently in garden competitions. Several surnames mentioned as living on this street in birth and death notices and these same names are on gravestones in the nearby churchyard. When walking here I found a plaque at each end of the street. Nothing in Papers Past about them so I went googling and on nzhistory website I found information about Papanui war memorial avenues. In 1943 the Minister of Internal Affairs suggested NZ communities should plant trees in honour of fallen soldiers. There was a tree planted on Dormer St on 20th August 1946. Brass memorial plaques were hung on power poles at the end of each memorial avenue. This is a cool bit of history that I knew nothing about.A small street with some lovely houses. Many were built in the 1920s with a couple from 1930s and 1960s. Several from 1970s and one from 2014. No I didn’t like the one from 2014.

Church Lane – Named because it is a short road leading from Papanui Road past St Mary’s Anglican Church “Church Lane, St Albans” first appears in the Star in 1887 in a death notice. First appears in street directories in 1924.A small amount of information from the library website and the name is very obvious and nothing that I can add about the name of the street. In Papers Past the earliest entry I found was dated 1879 and about drainage pipes to be installed from Church Lane to Office Road. I also found a brief note from 1866 about the consecration of St Mary’s Church. Church Lane was mentioned several times in 1890 after Mr Matson had an accident on Papanui Rd opposite Church Lane. He took action against the council claiming that it was well known that the crossing was dangerous. Several witnesses also said that the crossing was dangerous as it was 6 inches above the road. The horse leading his carriage tripped and passengers were flung from the carriage and one young lady was seriously hurt.In Feb 1893 the church wardens requested that the council take over the street. In 1901 there were several sections for sale from the estate of the late F J Garrick and a Mr Graham purchased the sections fronting Church Lane.Note there were several Church Lanes in the Christchurch area and it seemed like every suburb had a Church Lane.There is obviously a church on this street and it is a very modern looking church. I couldn’t make up my mind if I liked it or not. I was also confused as the church is now called All Souls so I went googling and it is now the combined parishes of St Mary’s of Merivale and St Matthew’s of St Albans. Both churches were badly damaged in the earthquakes. There is an interesting wee garden area next to the church. I couldn’t find any evidence of a graveyard here but there were many tiny plaques with names on them in the garden area. The QV website has 43 houses here which surprised me as I didn’t think that there were that many but I think that there have been many built on back sections. The original sections would have been fairly large. Only one from 1920s and a couple from 1930s. Several from 1960s and 1990s. A few more modern houses which probably would have replaced earthquake damaged houses. Some really ugly modern houses here. I chatted briefly with a local who said it was a lovely street to live on.