Town House Of The ’70s, No. 430 Hagley Avenue

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31440, 5 August 1967, Page 21

Town House Of The ’70s, No. 430 Hagley Avenue

HOMES OF THE PIONEERS—VIII

[Specially written for "The

L i>paciUl>; Press" by

J. A. HENDRY

On November 3, 1863, the Superintendent of Canterbury conveyed part of Town Reserve 47 to the future Sir John Hall. This land was bounded to the south by Moorhouse avenue, to the north-west by Hagley avenue and to the north and east by other properties. Incidentally, this area is believed to be the highest point within the city boundaries.

(3) In timber delivered at Hart’s Creek at 16s per 100 ft and all to special dimensions as required (by Hall).

White was very interested in milling and building including bridge building: he was responsible for the first Rakaia and Waimakariri bridges. He was also a major shareholder in “The Press” besides having .many other varied interests in the young colony. The White family continued to live in the new house until 1901 when Mr and Mrs J. W. Storry took it over, but the family interest was still maintained as Mrs Storry was a daughter of William White. In 1927 their son, J. N. Storry, sold most of the property and the house to Maria J. Harris, who sold in 1944 to R. J. Leach, in whose family it remains, the present owner being R. C. Leach.

In February, 1873, Hall sold a portion to Thomas Brown, of Mount Thomas Station, and a Mr Maude, and the remainder just over a year later to Wiliam White, a well-known business man and contractor in ths city. A deed, still held by the family, shows that Hall’s price was to be paid in kind as:— (1) In rubble stone at the same price as delivered to the Provincial Govern- . ment (from the Halswell quarries). (2) In. timber delivered. In Christchurch at 18s per 100 ft

Original Sketch The house was planned as soon as the land was acquired and among the family records is a sketch plan with elevations and sections; rather different from the final plan but very interesting nevertheless. It is believed to have been built by a Mr Powrie and completed before 1876. As shown ta the sketch, the house Is substantially the

same as when built, apart from two additions to the north and the corrugated galvanised iron on the roof replacing the shingles. It is quite impressive and repays close study, for there is a wealth of detail and some unusual planning. The two storey gabled ends shown have unusual treatments of double bay windows, features not often seen, and rarely treated in the lovely manner of these. All the windows are casements, surprisingly large and well detailed with slim members and in the main retain their original fastenings. Gothic tracery is used wherever such decoration can go, such as in panels to the double bay windows, and to bargeboards and the veranda railings, and in only one case is a design repeated. Even so this diversity does not spoil the effect, in fact it enhances it, and seems to draw one on to find further examples. The pierced and fretted bargeboards to the five main gables are quite beautiful and ingenious in their design, and finished satisfactorily with heavy turned and moulded finials.

tended round two sides of the house. Now it is open only to Hagley avenue, the return end having been glazed in on the first floor with pleasantly proportioned panes and filled in on the ground floor with rusticated weatherboards slipped in behind the traceried brackets of the veranda posts. Sundry windows were also inserted at this level complete with unusual hoods carried on pleasantly Shaped brackets. Another interesting feature here is that the floor of the upper balcony is some 2ft 6in below the main first floor level, helping to give a more pleasing general proportion. How difficult it must have been getting access from the bedrooms, as the only steps were made from the upper hall, immediatly over the front door. The tracery to the veranda is quite vigorous and unique, adding greatly to the general appeal.

Long, Wide Hall Away to the right of the sketch and to the rear lies the former coach-house, stable and billiards room, all still extant, though missing some bargeboards, but nevertheless all helping to give a very fair idea of a town house of the seventies. On entering the house we

Double Veranda Perhaps the most striking portion of the house lies in the double veranda which ex-

come into a long wide hall, quite high with an elegant straight flight of stairs on the right, complete with moulded balusters and newels cut strings and what was originally a polished handrail.

To the right lies the former drawing room, large and square, with an alcove enclosing the original veranda. There is a dainty cornice and elegant ceiling rose and the original timber and cream tile fire surround. Behind this room lies the former dining room, the biggest room in the house, while to the left of the hall lie first of all the morning room cum study, with a breakfast room behind that, both with bay window, and the kitchens and servery, etc., beyond that again. Upstairs there are five rooms, all of fair size, airy and with ample glass space.