Deans Cottage
Deans Cottage | |
---|---|
Etymology | William and John Deans |
General information | |
Type | Cottage |
Location | Riccarton |
Address | 16 Kahu Road |
Town or city | Christchurch |
Country | New Zealand |
Completed | late 1843 |
Relocated | 1947 1970 |
Renovated | 1889 1947 |
Owner | Christchurch City Council |
Technical details | |
Material | Timber; brick |
Floor count | one |
Website | |
Official | |
Designated | 2 April 1985 |
Reference no. | 3679 |
References | |
"Deans Cottage". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. |
Deans Cottage is the oldest remaining building in
Early history
Deans Cottage was built from timber from the neighbouring bush. Kahikatea (white pine) was used for framing, weatherboards, and roof shingles. Trusses, floor boards and wall lining was made from mataī (black pine). The fireplace had a chimney made from cob. The cottage had two bedrooms, a sitting room (where the fireplace was) and a storage area in the loft. The kitchen was in the original building. Deans Cottage was lived in by the Deans brothers.[4]
Deans Cottage was originally in a different location from where it is today; in fact the present location is its third.[1] It was built closer to the Avon River than the other buildings, and on its true-right.[a] On that side of the river, it was the most downstream one of all the buildings.[5]
William Deans died in July 1851 on a trip to New South Wales when his ship got wrecked at Cape Terawhiti.[6] This event delayed John Deans' departure for Scotland by several months; he was due to go and marry his fiancée. He left in January 1852 and returned with his wife, Jane Deans (née McIlraith), in February 1853.[7] The couple lived in Deans Cottage and their only son, John Deans II, was born in August 1853. By that time, John Deans was quite ill and he died from tuberculosis on 23 June 1854 in Deans Cottage.[6][8]
Whilst John Deans had chosen and cleared a site for a larger house prior to his departure for Scotland, no further work was done on it before his death. It was left to his widow to start the project, and she moved into Riccarton House in March 1856. This ended the occupation of Deans Cottage by the Deans family.[9][10]
Renovations and relocations
In 1889, Deans Cottage had its timber piles replaced by concrete foundations, and was re-roofed.[11] In 1947, Deans Cottage was relocated by traction engine by some 170 metres (560 ft) to where the scout hall is currently located.[12] In 1970, the cottage was moved to its current position.[1] Deans Cottage is today used as a museum.
Ownership
Christchurch City Council purchased most of the land, the bush, and the buildings from the Deans family in 1947. The last remaining piece of land, a triangle described by the Avon River, Kahu Road, and the drive to Riccarton House was purchased by the city council in 1975. The triangle was the site of most of the buildings constructed before 1855.[13]
Heritage registration
Deans Cottage was registered as a Category I heritage structure by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (since renamed to Heritage New Zealand) on 2 April 1985.[1]
Notes
- ^ True-left or true-right refer to the side of a river when looking in a downstream direction.
References
- ^ a b c d "Deans Cottage". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ a b Orwin 2015, pp. 25–27.
- ^ Orwin 2015, pp. 50f.
- ^ a b Orwin 2015, p. 54.
- ^ Orwin 2015, pp. 54f.
- ^ a b Miller, Graham M. "Deans, John and Deans, William". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ Orwin 2015, pp. 93, 98.
- ^ Orwin 2015, p. 108.
- ^ Orwin 2015, p. 130.
- ^ "Riccarton House and Bush". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ Orwin 2015, p. 167.
- ^ Orwin 2015, p. 207.
- ^ Orwin 2015, p. 203.
Sources
- ISBN 978-1-86953-903-0.
External links
- Video on YouTube