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.

Rastrick Street – formerly Rastrick’s Lane. Named after the Rastrick family Joseph Rastrick (1808?- 1874) was a builder of Papanui Road, and his sons, Robinson Rastrick (1838-1900) and William Rastrick (1835?-1898), had a builder’s shop at what became 29 Rastrick Street. They were among the principal local building contractors in the late 19th century. The street was often used to avoid the toll-bar opposite the Carlton Hotel. Rastrick’s Lane is mentioned in the Star in 1889. Rastrick Street first appears in street directories in 1890.A reasonable of information but the library website. I seriously sidetracked researching this family and it is scary how many people get things wrong on the ancestry website.The first mention of Rastrick’s Lane that I found on Papers Past was the auction of goods in 1888. Then in 1889 there was a fire in an old house.In 1902 there were several sections for sale. Also in 1902 there is mention of property of the late R Rastrick sold to W J Rastrick, William Robinson Rastrick the son of Joseph died in 1898. In 1905 2 cottages and land fronting Rastrick St and St James Terrace was sold to John and Joseph Rastrick. Note I found 2 or 3 references to St James Terrace and this street linked to Rastrick St. In 1908 the Rastrick brothers requested the the sewer in this street be taken over by the drainage board.In 1917 there was complaints about the danger of the corner of Tonbridge and Rastrick Streets and requests that the council to take up the offer of land from Mr Rastrick to lesson the danger.Joseph Rastrick was born on 4th August 1808 in Keighley in Yorkshire to Benjamin and Betty Rastrick. Joseph married Sarah Robinson in 1831 but sadly she died in 1852 or 1853. Joseph with three of his children came to NZ on the ship Regina leaving England in December 1959. He was aged 49 and down as a single man.The three children with him were William, Robinson and Mary Ann. In the 1841 census there were 4 children Martha, William, Robinson and Mark. In 1851 census there were still 4 children Martha, William Robinson and Elizabeth Ann. Note Mark had disappeared so I am assuming he died.This street has 18 properties and one is a big complex of flats. Three houses date from 1910 and one from 1930. The are from 1990s. There are businesses at the Papanui Rd end. I am really kicking myself that I didn’t walk to the complete end of the street as I would have discovered Tonbridge St. My excuse is that one of the houses near the end had a hose going and the water was going across the entire road. I didn’t want to get wet and it is a narrow street. I still had at least 3km to walk home.

Dorset Street – Formerly Park Street. Named because of its proximity to Hagley Park. Re-named Dorset Street. Named after Dorset, a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. Park Street first appears in street directories in 1885. Re-named Dorset Street on 7 March 1904. Among a number of streets re-named in 1904 and given the names of place-names in the United Kingdom.A small amount of information from the library website and nothing that I can add about the name of the street. I believe that the reason for renaming was that councils merged and there were duplicate names.Hardly any mention on Papers Past apart from death notices. In 1905 there was one letter to the editor signed ratepayer complaining about the state of this street and the neighbouring Dublin St. In the same year the council announced that they would be doing channelling work. In 1921 there was a note about no buildings to be built with 33 feet of the centre of the street.There is one house here from 1910 and I suspect that it would be the Dorset House Backpackers. I vaguely recall a friend staying here and I was sure that it was called Dorset Guesthouse but I am going back to 2009 so my memory could be faulty. There are buildings from 2015 and they are at Hagley Park end. I was surprised to find out that the ugly buildings opposite Dublin St have a heritage listing. They are called Dorset St Flats and designed by Miles Warren and built in the late 1950s to early 1960s. Described as a good example of Modern Movement. Damaged in the earthquakes and currently under repair. I had no idea what is happening at the Victoria St end except that a big building seems to be going up. Googling tells me that it is possibly Bishopspark Retirement Village and I vaguely recall that there was objections to this earlier in the year. It will be replacing the complex that was damaged in the earthquakes. I thought at the time that if I had to go into a home that it would be a convenient location being so close to the city and Hagley Park but after seeing them in flesh so to speak not so sure.Trying to search for details on Papers Past wasn’t easy as there were so many entries for a Dorset St involved the Jack the Ripper murders

Dublin Street – formerly Carlton Street Named after Dublin, capital, county borough, and seaport of the Republic of Ireland. Carlton Street is first mentioned in the Star in 1879 in a report of a meeting of the Municipal Committee. First appears in street directories in 1885. Re-named Dublin Street on 7 March 1904 after amalgamation of St Albans with the city in 1903. Among a number of streets re-named in 1904 and given the names of place-names in the United Kingdom.A small amount of information from the library website and nothing that I can add about the name of the street. Didn’t find a huge amount of information on Papers Past. Found the same information about the renaming of the street. Carlton Street was taken over as a public street in 1878 and the channelling of the street was finished in 1879. In 1882 there were sections for sale from the Barker Estate and in 1886 there were more sections available. In 1888 things get very confusing as several letters to the council and the editor about the name of the street. A petition from Mr Black complaining about the street being named Carlton St as it should be Barker St. Then there are letters about the street name should stay Carlton St as that is what is on the titles. One letter made a comment about being a battle between Carltonites and Barkerites. To add to the confusion there was a Barker St that became Onslow St in 1889, In 1904 Carlton Mill Rd became Carlton St and then returned to Carlton Mill Rd name. I would need to look at a map from 1880s to be able to figure it out. This street has one house from 1910 and one from 1915 but most are from 1990s. One is from 2017. The back entrance to Parkbridge is on this street but technically they are on Park Terrace. I like the location but not really sure what it would be like to live here. I remember years ago taking ages to find a cache here.