Austin Street in the suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch

Austin Street in Sydenham – Named after Alfred Austin (1835-1913). Austin was a lawyer, editor and poet and English poet laureate 1896-1913. Probably named to continue the theme of “poets and writers” streets of Sydenham, Addington and Waltham named by a committee of the Sydenham Borough Council on 19 January 1880. The Sydenham Borough Council …

Burnbrae Street in the suburb of St Martins, Christchurch

Burnbrae St in St Martins- formerly Burnbrae Road. Named after Burnbrae, a house in St Martins in the early 20th century In 1903 an advertisement appears wanting a “strong girl to assist with housework” at “Burnbrae, St Martin’s, near new bridge”. Burnbrae Road is first mentioned in The Press in 1910 in the Lost and …

Longfellow Street in the suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch

Longfellow Street in Sydenham- Named after Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882).Longfellow was an American poet. One of the “poets and writers” streets of Sydenham, Addington and Waltham named by a committee of the Sydenham Borough Council on 19 January 1880. Made a public street from 1 January 1888. First appears in street directories in 1907.A small …

Tennyson Street in the suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch

Tennyson Street in Sydenham – Early informal names were Pipers Lane and Pipers Road. Named after George Piper (1843-1909), who was also known as Whistling Piper. Re-named Tennyson Street. Named after Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809- 1892).George Piper and his brother had a brick kiln east of Colombo Street. Their father Thomas also worked there. The …

Percival Street in the suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch

Percival Street in Sydenham – Named after Westby Brook Perceval (1854- 1928). Perceval was a lawyer, politician and agent general. He was member of parliament for Christchurch South from 1887. Percival Street is first mentioned in the Star in 1908 when land for sale there is advertised. First appears in street directories in 1910. A …

Severn Street in the suburb of St Albans, Christchurch

Severn Street in St Albans- formerly Severn’s Road Named after Joseph Samuel John Severn(1821?-1909).Severn was a baker who lived in Church Road (later Rutland Street).Among a number of streets laid out in 1910 by the owners, the Church Property Trustees, and later dedicated to the council. First appears in street directories in 1912. It was …

Aylesford Street in the suburb of Mairehau, Christchurch

Aylesford St in Mairehau – Part of Shirley Road (from Hills Road to Westminster Street).Named after Aylesford, a village and civil parish on the River Medway in Kent, England A section of Shirley Road was re-named Aylesford Street on 1 September 1948 when 120 streets were renamed. A small amount of information from the library …

Thames Street in the suburb of Mairehau, Christchurch

Thames Street in Mairehau – Formerly Toons Road. Named after John Toon (1835?-1918). Re-namedThames Street. Named after the Thames River which passes through London. Tenders were called for the forming and metalling of Toon’s Road in 1870. Toon won the contract. Toon’s Road first appears in street directories in 1892. Toon, a farmer of St …

Squire Street in the suburb of Mairehau, Christchurch

Squire Street in Mairehau- formerly Spence Street. Spence Street first appears in street directories in 1905. Re-named Squire Street on 1 September 1948 when 120 streets were re-named. A small amount of information from the library website. Not a lot of information on Papers Past. The earliest mention I could find was a death notice …

Millar Street in the suburb of Sydenham, Christchurch

Millar Street in Sydenham – Named after John Andrew Millar (1855-1915). Millar, a seaman, trade union leader and politician, was an MP in the 1891-1912 Liberal Government, chairman of committees under R. J. Seddon and a Cabinet minister after Seddon’s death in 1906, First appears in street directories in 1908.A small amount of information from …