TO BE REBUILT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 87, 22 January 1938, Page 4

TO BE REBUILT.

THE LONGBEACH HOMESTEAD. DESIGN NOT YET DECIDED ON. Though Mr J. H. Grigg has decided to rebuild at an early date the historic Longbeach Homestead, which was destroyed by fire on the afternoon of Sunday, November 14, the design of the new building has not yet been decided on.

It is not likely, however, that the new structure will follow the design of the original place which was built by the late Mr John Grigg, founder of the estate, about 50 years ago. Plans are to be submitted to Mr Grigg shortly by a Christchurch architect.

Of 33 rooms, the homestead was constructed from bricks made at Mr John Grigg’s own kiln, which he put up at Eiffelton for the manufacture of pipes for the draining of the huge swamp areas that existed when the estate was taken up in 1861. Since the fire, experts have examined the walls, which are two feet thick, there being a doubt as to the soundhess of the bricks which had been held in position by mortar that did not include any cement. It is intended that sound bricks taken from the walls should be used in the new building. .