J.C Watts-Russell (1825 – 1875) & Alfred Creyke (1831 – 1892)

You couldn’t have had two closer friends than J.C. (pictured) and Alfred. The grew up together as their fathers were friends, owned land together, married the same women, travelled together and are even buried in the same cemetery in Upper Riccarton, Christchurch. It’s the land these men owned that puts them on the map…the suburb …

The Press – since 25/5/1861

Nihil stile quod non honestum – Nothing is useful that is not honest – The Press – www.press.co.nz motto.So true. The Press are onto something!I was completely ecstatic to see this in the foyer of the new Press Building on Gloucester Street.This pillar displays the very first edition of The Press, dated 25th May 1861. …

The Avon River (Ōtākaro)

I can’t begin to fathom how surreal the afternoon/evening of the 16th December 1850 would have been for the Deans brothers. Especially as they may have stood in the doorway of the Deans Cottage while the shrieks and shouts of two stripped down male settlers splashed about in the Avon River – their echoes adding …

J.C. Watts-Russell

Christchurch Cemeteries: Filling You In On Our Buried Past – John Charles (J.C.) Watts-Russell Date and Place of Birth: 1825 at Ilam Hall, Staffordshire, England Date and Place of Death: 2nd April 1875, Cathedral Square, Christchurch (after short severe illness) A Canterbury Association Settler: Arrived on the ‘Sir George Seymour’ – 17th December 1850 – …