Pioneering Naturalist Puts Canterbury On The World Map – 1866

It didn’t take John Davis Enys long after finishing his education to follow in the footsteps of his maternal Grandfather, Davis Gilbert, who was the President of the Royal Society of London and a member of the Geological Society of Cornwell.   John would take off for long walks and return with a collection of …

Christchurch’s Last Remaining Wooden Bridge Is Built – 1866

In 1862, eccentric British lawyer Joseph Cornish Helmore arrived in Christchurch and purchased 50 acres in Merivale which included the western end of Pilgrim’s Corner (Little Hagley Park). The area then became known as Helmore’s Plantation due to the lovely trees on his land. Known for being suspicious of all he met, his garden in …

Christchurch Play Chess In A World First – 1866

In 1866, a small group of Cantab Chess enthusiasts got together to play their counterparts in Nelson via telegraph – a world first. After this historic event, the group disbanded until the formation of the Christchurch Chess Club in 1877. The same year, the club hosted the New Zealand Chess Championships – also known as …