Owner Has Lived 56 Years In Ferrymead

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30178, 9 July 1963, Page 9

Owner Has Lived 56 Years In Ferrymead

A family link with the historic Ferrymead propertygoing back tn the early 1880 s may be severed this week. T.ic property—comprising about nine acres and a twostorey building which was originally the Ferrymead Hotel, built in 1851—is to be auctioned on Wednesday, The present owner. 82-year-old Mr Leonard Shearman, has lived in the house for 56 years. His wife, formerly Miss Anne Bunting, lived there from 1883 until her death in 1958 . “Yes, I will miss the old place terribly; there's no doubt about tnat.” Mr Shearman said as he prodded a roaring log fire in the Redcliffe stone fireplace that dominates the living-room of his historic home. Born in Hertfordshire, Mr Shearman arrived in New Zealand on New Year's Day, 11807. His first job was picking

[apricots in an orchard In H athcote Valley and it was only through his employer's I recommendation as “a jolly 'good place to board” that Mr [ Shearman became associated with Ferrymeed. i "When I first saw the .place, I vowed I wouldn’t live there for long.” he said. “You see, there were three quarries nearby and the dust and noise and cut-up roads made conditions quite unbearable.

“Two years later, I married the daughter of the house; and here I’ve remained without a regret ever since," he said. In the next few years, Mr Shearman was busy transforming the property into one of the best-kept market gardens in the valley. He built eight glasshouses and

specialised in the growing of tomatoes, which found a ready sale wherever they were offered—even as far south as Dunedin. He also did landscape gardening and was responsible for laying out the gardens at the School for Deaf, Sumner. Mr Shearman has travelled widely and has visited nearly every country in the world. "In fact, I think about the only place I haven’t been to is South America,” he said. He has been back to England five times and has paid brief visits to Korea, Japan, China, Russia. Burma and India. Although he retired from market gardening 10 years ago. Mr Shearman is still active around his private garden. He enjoys reading. “I read Dickens every day,” he said.

Mr Shearman said he hoped his property would eventually become a recreational area to serve the growing residential district on St- Andrews Hill. “A really fine park with all facilities could be established here.” he said. He hopes his old home will be preserved. If the property is sold, Mr Shearman will live in St Albans.