Nov 24, 2008

Cashel Street 1862


Probably dating from 1862, this is the earliest known easterly view of Cashel Street from the High Street intersection. 

To the Left is the provincial government's Customs building, to its Right is the seed shop of the market gardener William Wilson, who would become the city's first Mayor. The large oval roofed building is the horse bazaar and auction rooms of William David Barnard, a Christchurch Municipal Councillor from 1868.

Known as Tattersall's Auction Rooms, it would become H. Matson and Company. Replaced by the Tattersalls Hotel in 1900, it's the site of a car park building in 2008. Beyond the auction rooms is the Saddlery of Archibald Admore. Further on to the corner of Manchester Street are first generation buildings in what was the 1851 garden of Captain Richard Westenra, earliest New Zealand forebear of the renowned Hayley Westenra.

To the far Right at the corner of the extant Kiver's Lane is the 1860 grocery store and bakery of Charles Kiver (1816-1882).


William Barnard's premises with an auction in progress

Note

Although there were two commercial photographers known to be operating in Christchurch by 1856, there are as yet no known streetscapes of the city before 1859. By the time that the above photographs were taken there were fifteen photographers listed in Christchurch.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am a descendant of Thomas Charles Barnard, Christchurch watchmaker and jeweller and was thrilled to see these early photos of the premises of his relation, entrepreneur and auctioneer William David Barnard. You may not know William used an alias - this was not his real name?

Marcus Castell said...

Not overly surprising that William David Barnard used an alias; there have always been a multitude of reasons why the remotest of frontiers has attracted emigrants seeking anonymity, particularly from Australia in the early period of settlement.

There's a circa 1865 photo of Thomas Charles Barnard's Colombo Street watchmaker and jeweler's premises. A small copy illustrates an article about the adjoining A.1. Hotel, but a large version is available.

Kathryn said...

Hi, I am doing some research for the Christchurch Poultry, Bantam and Pigeon club. They held some exhibitions in Tattersalls woolstore in the 1890s. I was wondering where you sourced the photos as I would like to use some of them in a booklet I am currently writing. I would appreciate your help, thanks. By the way, this is a great and informative website and helps to fill in some blanks.