Old Bishopscourt showing damage from the fire that broke out Christmas Eve, 1924
Old Bishopscourt showing damage from the fire that broke out Christmas Eve, 1924
[1925]
"A building round which centred a good deal of Anglican Church history was damaged early yesterday by fire. The alarm was given from three street boxes at 12.20, and when the Fire Brigade arrived the shingle roof was well alight. Two leads of hose were applied, and after an hours fight the fire was got under control. Most of the fire was confined to the upper storey, but two or three rooms on the ground floor suffered badly. The building has been added to from time to time, the latest additions being in brick, with a slate roof. The downstairs portion of this half escaped fairly lightly, but the upstairs rooms were totally gutted. The majority of the lower rooms were damaged more by water than by fire. The Rev. Hubert Jones, Precentor of the Cathedral, and Mrs Jones were occupants of the building at the time. Bishopscourt was built by the late Bishop Harper, and later was used by Archbishop Julius, the Primate. His Grace then moved to the Cashmere Hills, and Bishopscourt was used as a hostel for girl students under Miss Pugh and the direction of the Diocesan Board of Education. It is interesting to note that it was the first house to be built in Christchurch with a staircase which was, when first erected, a flight of steps leading to a loft. When it was enlarged a brick wing was added on the left. It was intended to complete the whole building but the work was never gone on with. The rooms were of the old-fashioned type, and very low, and these were enlarged and heightened.During the influenza epidemic of 1918, Bishopcourt was used as a babies hostel, providing a temporary home for young children whose parents were ill. Recently the girl students moved their quarters to a house in Cranmer Square, bought by Archbishop Julius, to be used as a hostel." -- The Press, 26 Dec. 1924, p. 10
File Reference CCL-KPCD02-0026
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