Homes of the Pioneers College House

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30757, 22 May 1965, Page 5

Homes of the Pioneers College House

[Specially written for “The Press" by JOHN A. HENDRY, F.N.Z.1.A.l

JN 1851 the Canterbury Association sold for £lO5O 14 quarter-acre town sections in the block bounded by Cashel street, Rolleston avenue, and Hereford street to Viscount Manderville, later to become Duke of Manchester.

Twelve years later C. O. Torlesse bought several of these sections fronting on Rolleston avenue and facing the Botanic Gardens and built a substantial house. For £5O he had the grounds laid out by Mr Lowe.

In 1885 the Torlesse Estate sold the property to Christ’s College, and it became the residence of the Principal of College House. Over the years, many additions have been made and now, in view of the projected removal to the Ham site, the property is being disposed of to the Y.M.C.A. This historic house will, of course, be demolished, but the traditions established here by such well-known men as Dean Jacobs, Dean Carrington, Canon Wilfrid, and Dean Martin Sullivan will live on. They and their families all lived here during their terms as principal of Christchurch College.

As can be seen from the sketch. College House is a large timber-framed building

grouped charmingly round a small courtyard, planted with! lawn, flower beds and ornamental trees. It would appear that the original house is the northern portion, including the front door, bay window, and side veranda. The middle bay and south wing were probably built later as the requirements of the college demanded. The whole effect is one of calmness, friendliness, and i welcome, indeed a most inviting atmosphere, yet there are many varied components: gables, differing roof heights, i dormer, double-hung, casement, and bay windows, verandas and odd chimneys. Somehow, though, they harmonise. Take the south wing and the main front on to the avenue, for example. Here the domes are held together by the strong accent of the projecting two-storey gabled bay, while the porch nestles into this same bay, yet still contrives to be a wide, comfortable entrance. Again, the attractive fretting to the main gables is repeated on the dormers, while the somewhat heavy cornice treatment to some of the windows is offset by fairly broad sweeps of uninterrupted wall space. On the

’ other hand, the north front I has a completely different treatment, with an unbroken eaves line, regularly-spaced small-paved windows, and a simple lean-to veranda. Comparing these two elevations, we realise that the firstfloor rooms have deeplycoved ceilings and to the north front a glass line almost to the floor, although it is much higher elsewhere pleasant conceit giving the impression of the whole house nestling close to the ground. Internally it is interesting to follow the many alterations which have been done over the century of its history and to imagine how it may once have been. For instance, the projecting south wing has been gutted on the ground floor to make one large room, with heavy beams and posts replacing former walls. The drawinging-room to the left of the front door is a pleasant room of reasonable size with its original doors, fireplace, and trim, opening on to the veranda and so to the lawns and gardens. Quietly dreaming of the past, this century-old home awaits with, dignity the in- | evitable bulldozer and the march of time and progress.