HOMES OF THE PIONEERS Amwell, 166 Papanui Rd

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30793, 3 July 1965, Page 5

HOMES OF THE PIONEERS Amwell, 166 Papanui Rd

(Specially written for "The Press’’ by

JOHN A HENDRY. F.N.Z.I.A.)

JJICHARD PACKER, in 1851, was granted 50 acres of land bounded by Papanui road and St. Albans street from the Canterbury Association.

Four years later he sold a portion to T. M. R. Creswell who sold it, in 1865, to Mr Brounell. Then F. J. Garrick bought it and is thought to have built, or at least started, the present house, selling, in 1873, to William Newton Milton.

In 1899, the Milton family sold to Mrs Sarah Jane Shand, and in 1920 Washington Irving Carney bought the property from her family. Seven years later it passed to Mr and Mrs A. A. Penfold from whom Mrs Edwin H. S. Hamilton bought it in 1929. selling it in her turn in 1945 to Maurice Osborne. Finally, the present owners, Mr and Mrs G. S. Branthwaite, bought it in 1958. As can be seen from the sketch, this large two-storey white house of impeccable weatherboard, low veranda gabled ends and double bay windows has very simple, clean lines and is a most satisfying structure, massing into pleasant proportions. The roofs are of slate and the floors incidentally of Baltic pine. Verandas, as we have previously seen, were a must and this one has deiight-

ful proportions with a touch of whimsicality in the frettings to the posts, together with a pleasant addition of a fully-extended bay window. Although this is an obvious addition, the main line of the veranda is not disturbed. Above, the regular spacing of the simple ■ curved double-hung windows, together with the cornice-like effect of the moulded brackets to the slightly projecting eaves, add to the pleasant broad effect

When we come to the projecting gable end with its double bay window, we feel it is a right and proper accent to the whole, for while bold, the detail is in a remarkably sympathetic manner giving a lightness not often found in such elements. Then, too, the simple broken pediment effect to the top of the gable is happily finished by the cornice members returning on themselves, and at the top by

the simply designed finial. The remainder of the house to the south also ties in very well with the general scheme. The late Cecil Wood altered the house considerably for Mr and Mrs Carney, and his work is to be seen in the main entrance door and decorative sidelights and in the large sunporches to ground and first floors on the North front, not seen here in the sketch, and also throughout the interior where considerable alteration took place. On entering the long broad hall, we see original delightful curving stairs with small square balusters and polished handrail wreathing up to the first floor. 1 To the left is the magnificent drawing room, very long with a beautifully carved stone fireplace in the Tudor manner designed by Mr Wood, crowned with a handsome timber mantel. The bay window is quite delightful and at the far end, the room opens on to an exten-

sive sunporch. Beautifully furnished and lit by table lamps it is a lovely room. Behind lies the present dining room, formerly a morning room, with white painted very wide dado panelling and red brick fireplace with an elegant timber fire surround. To the right lies the former dining room, another very big room with china cabinets flanking the fireplace. This room is now the living room of a flat, for the house has been divided into two units, each one as big as a large modern house. Upstairs there are large airy bedrooms, with plenty of closet space and good bathrooms and all very nicely detailed and furnished. The whole impression gained is one of space uncluttered to give interesting vistas. Before the immediate grounds were broken up only about 25 years ago, they were really spacious, with huge old trees, shrubberies, extensive lawns and lovely flower gardens, all enhanced by the stream which runs through it. Even today several of the old trees remain and it iS still possible to imagine its former glory. L