Chippenham Lodge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chippenham Lodge |
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Chippenham Lodge in December 2011
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| General information | |
| Location | St Albans |
| Address | 51 Browns Road |
| Town or city | Christchurch |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 43°30′33″S 172°37′29″E / 43.5092°S 172.6246°E |
| Completed | 1863 |
| Client | Francis and George Goldney |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | unreinforced masonry |
| Floor count | two |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Benjamin Mountfort (probably) Maxwell Bury (1865 southern wing) |
| Official name: Chippenham Lodge | |
| Designated: | 25 June 2004 |
| Reference #: | 1846 |
Chippenham Lodge is a historic building in the Christchurch, New Zealand suburb of St Albans. It has been an important home for many people and a center for community groups.
Contents
Chippenham Lodge: A Historic Home
Chippenham Lodge is a special building in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is known for its long history and its role in the community. The house has seen many changes and different owners over the years.
What's in a Name?
The first owners, two brothers named Francis and George Goldney, named Chippenham Lodge. They named it after their hometown, Chippenham in Wiltshire, England. The street where the house is, Brown's Road, is also named after a famous past owner, John Evans Brown.
Early Days of Chippenham Lodge
In 1862, the Goldney brothers bought a large piece of land in St Albans. They owned a huge sheep farm called Cora Lynn in the Southern Alps. They wanted a home in Christchurch. Their new brick house was built in 1863 and had six rooms. It was likely designed by a famous architect named Benjamin Mountfort.
In 1865, the Goldney brothers sold the house to Henry Mytton. Later that year, Mytton added a big extension to the house. This made Chippenham Lodge a much larger home with ten rooms. The new part was probably designed by Maxwell Bury, who was working with Mountfort. Mytton was a merchant, which means he bought and sold goods.
A Home for Important People
Over the years, many interesting people lived in Chippenham Lodge.
- A lawyer named Thomas Joynt lived there for some time.
- In 1875, John Thomas Peacock bought the house. He was a politician who had been a member of New Zealand's Parliament.
- Peacock then transferred the house to his brother-in-law, John Evans Brown. Brown also became a politician, representing the Ashley area in Parliament. He sometimes called his home 'The Lodge'.
- In 1902, Walter Joseph Moore, an accountant, bought the house. He divided some of the land around it.
- In 1924, a surgeon named Hugh Acland became the owner. He also sold off some land and lived in the house until he passed away in 1961.
A Place for Community
After Hugh Acland, the house had two more owners. Then, in 1971, a group called the Heartwood Community Incorporated bought Chippenham Lodge. This group was very active in social and political issues.
Many important organizations had their first meetings or were started at Chippenham Lodge. These include:
- HART (Halt All Racist Tours), a group that protested against racist sports tours.
- Greenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand, an environmental organization.
- Women's Refuge, which helps women and children in need. The Christchurch Women's Refuge started right next door to Chippenham Lodge.
At its busiest, about 20 people lived in the house as part of the community. One of these residents was Marian Hobbs, who later became a government minister in New Zealand.
Surviving Earthquakes
Chippenham Lodge was badly damaged during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. The current owners have suggested moving the house to Hagley Park, near the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. This would make it easier for everyone to visit and learn about its history. The house would need to be almost completely rebuilt to be moved.
