ARCHITECT’S PLANS

Turnbull Library Record, Volume XV, 1 November 1962, Page 24

ARCHITECT’S PLANS

When the old-established architectural firm of Clere and Clere, formerly Clere and Richmond, decided recently to give up business, the Library was presented with a collection of plans of many of the buildings designed by them since the 1880’s. The plans selected for the Library are principally of churches, which were rather a speciality of the older Fdk. de J. Clere.

Although a good number of plans have been presented to the churches themselves where the preservation of muniments was convenient, here in the Library the rest will be accessible to the future historian, restorer or builder, as well as providing a body of architectural information on the trends and styles of the times. Such notable structures as St. Mary of the Angels (in Boulcott Street), the (old) Government Life building and the A.M.P. building in central Wellington are particular examples, but the firm was called upon to design churches from Hastings to Hawera. Because his son Mr. E. H. Clere who continued the business, was established for some years at Palmerston North, there are many buildings in that area that bear the stamp of Clere.

The following list of plans now held is given as a matter of record: Ashhurst Lyall Bay Bunnythorpe Makara Dannevirke Manakau Eastbourne Mangamahoe Eketahuna Mangaweka Eltham Martinborough Featherston Marton Feilding, Parish Hall Matawai Fowlers Maxwell Foxton Mokoia Greatford Motueka Hastings Newlands Havelock Newtown, St. Thomas's Hikurangi College Ngamatapouri Island Bay, St. Hilda's Nireaha Kaikoura Normanby Kaponga Ohakune Kiwitea Ohau Konini Ohingaiti Church Room Koriniti Okaiawa Levin Opunake

Otaki Maori Church Taihape restoration Taueru Paekakariki Tauherenikau Camp Pahiatua Tawa Palmerston North, Te Horo Congregational Te Roti Paraparaumu Beach Tinui Patea Trentham Pauatahanui Turakina Plimmerton Wadestown Pohangina Waikanae Raetihi Waikanae Beach Rangiwahia Wellington: Raumati South Chinese Mission Raurimu St. Paul's (alterations) Reikorangi St. Peter's Rona Bay St. Peter's Rongotea Mission Hall Roseneath Westmere Shannon Woodville Silverstream

In addition there is a volume of photographs of buildings, some reflected in the plans, many not: together with a volume of newspaper cuttings relating to the architects' activities over the past 70 years. By an odd coincidence, it is found that in the papers of the architects' firm of J. S. Swan, received bv the Library in 1958, there are the specifications and contracts for most of the buildings of which the plans have now come to hand. These documents number 176, and form the natural complement of the plans. It appears that Mr. Clere sold his business to Swan about 1900, planning to go to and remain in England. After two years or so he returned and resumed business, but these records remained till Swan's business was terminated in 1958. At one period he was associated with Thomas Turnbull, no relation of our founder, and the original plans of the Library were received in this group.

Although the name of Clere dominates the history of the firm, it continued under several partnerships, viz.: 1881 F. de J. Clere; 1883 Atkins and Clere; 1891 Clere and Richmond ; 1895 Clere, Fitzgerald and Richmond ; 1900 Clere and Swan. The latter continued independently from 1905. This is a group of material that is of especial interest, but typical of much that should be available and that the Library would be glad to acquire.