Linwood Cemetery Tour Guide - Christchurch City Libraries

Last Monday the Hon. J. T. Peacock was married to Mrs. McRae. The
wedding took place at ‘Hawkesbury’, St. Albans, the private residence of the
bridegroom. A few special friends were invited to the ceremony, solemnized
in the large drawing room, where I hear the most lovely floral effects were
arranged. The dining room also was converted into a perfect bower; there cake
and wine were dispensed, with many warm congratulations to both bride and
bridegroom. The wedding being of a private character, I am unable to give you
details of the dresses worn.
J. T. , 77, died on 20 October 1905. Janey, 65, died in 1918. A son, who took the
surname of his mother’s adoptive father and husband, John Alexander McRae
Peacock, died, at 37, on 5 October 1915, his widow, Eva Mary McRae, 85, dying on
25 October 1968. Their daughters included Nancy, 14, who died on 21 February
1922, and Eva Hawkesbury McRae Peacock, 64, who died on 13 May 1970.
In his will J. T. left 500 pounds for the work of the Christchurch Beautifying
Association. In March 1908 Association member Professor Charles Chilton
suggested that the city council make the erection of fountains part of the architecture
of Christchurch. Anderson’s, the local iron founders, supplied details of the
prefabricated fountains which were created at the Coalbrookdale Iron Works at
Shropshire. The association agreed to accept a Coalbrookdale fountain which would
bear the plaque:
Erected by the Christchurch Beautifying Association from funds bequeathed
by the late Hon. J. T. Peacock.
The fountain, which stood on two different sites in the Botanic Gardens, was always
controversial. A 17 June 1911 Press letter by the head of the Canterbury College
School of Art, Robert Herdman Smith, stated that it exhibited no more taste than the
gaudy decoration used by travelling showmen to embellish their merry go-rounds..
The fountain was put into storage in 1949.
The fountain was reinstated in 1996. Since then its colours have continued to cause
argument. In the 31 March 2007 Press Neil Roberts wrote: ‘As a fountain, it is the
water works that make the display, and the form and patina should remain neutral,
especially when in a setting such as a botanic gardens where it is the trees and flower
beds that are the stars’.
Once there were – in a working class area - Conference, Aldred and Peacock streets.
Conference Street was so named because the 1874 Methodist Church conference took
place in Christchurch, Aldred because the Rev. John Aldred was a pioneer Wesleyan
minister and Peacock because of the Peacock family.
Linwood Cemetery Tour Guide
Updated 2013
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