Bay Harbour: July 05, 2023

Bay Harbour News Wednesday July 5 2023
12
TREASURES FROM THE PAST
The elegant Empire – quenching
LONDON ST has long been
an integral commercial hub of
Ōhinehou Lyttelton, extending to
the Norwich Quay thoroughfare
via the arteries of Canterbury
and Oxford Sts.
A dominant feature of the
streetscape from the first years
of the colonial town were the
successive establishments on
Townsite 31, 9-11 London St.
The first European structure
on the site was “Mr Fairhurst’s
Assembly Rooms” of 1865, also
briefly known as “The Billiard
Room” and “The Shades” (wine
vault and lounge).
Utilised for a variety of entertainment
and civic purposes,
including choral and theatrical
performances, fundraising events
and electoral meetings, such
salutary activities were curtailed
when the building became a
victim of the 1870 Great Fire,
along with most of the rest of the
central town block.
Post fire, in 1871, a two-storey
wooden hotel named the Empire
was built. Its construction
was marred by disagreements
between the Lyttelton Borough
Council surveyor and owner
Joseph Dransfield’s own surveyor
regarding the necessary depth
(18 or 14 inches) and materials
(mortar versus clay) of the foundations.
It appears the council
lacked the authority to stop the
project, although their concerns
were recorded for indemnity
against any failure or accident.
The 1873 photograph clearly
shows one post fire concession
to safety – a brick fire wall is
evident on the eastern side
of the building, intended to
stop conflagration across
neighbouring sites.
Visible in the roadway just
beyond the Empire’s verandah,
(ubiquitous of this era), is one of
a number of public wells around
the developing township, when
accessible water supply for both
drinking and fire fighting was a
London St, Lyttelton in 1873, with the Empire front left. Te Ūaka The Lyttelton Museum
ref.14625.178 https://www.teuaka.org.nz/online-collection/1135445
critical issue.
W Kiddey opened Lyttelton’s
first “dive” bar beneath the
hotel in 1872; however, the
Empire retained its more widely
used name through numerous
ownership and licensee changes
for the rest of its lifespan.
For nearly 30 years from
1885 -1914, the Crown Brewery
Company held ownership, leasing
the building to a succession
of licensees, their distinctive
branding on proud display.
In 1914, requirements by the
Lyttelton Licensing Committee
for structural alterations to be
made prior to licence renewal
may have been behind the
decision taken to rebuild.
After auctioning of chattels,
and demolition, a much grander
two-storey hotel in the then
popular Renaissance style
was built of brick and stone.
Attractive arched ground floor
windows contrasted with those
on the second storey, which
were edged with quoins and
moulded hoods. With substantial
chimneys, a balustraded roof
cornice and similar detailing
below the first floor windows,
the whole created a significant
architectural statement on
London St.
Te Kōwhiringa Pōti Māori | Māori Electoral Option
Time is running out if you
want to change rolls.
Māori mā, if you want to change rolls for this year’s
General Election, you need to do it by 13 July.
vote.nz | 0800 36 76 56