Thomas John Edmonds was born in Poplar, London in the year 1858. As a young man he worked for a several different confectioneries where he learnt the mixing of different kinds of cooking powders. It was here that Thomas began to get ideas about making his own baking powder. In 1879, Thomas married Jane Irvine …
As the citizens of Christchurch went about their business at the Land Office (which is now a part of the Canterbury Provincial Chambers), upstairs, in a very small room sat four of our founding fathers, squished in side by side behind a small table. They were John Robert Godley (founder of Canterbury), Mark Stoddart (first …
James Archibald McIlraith (1834 – 1903) Died of old age Place of Death: Rakaia Janes Deans’ half brother, manager of Homebush, behind the naming of Glentunnel Buried in Addington Cemetery, Christchurch The story of the James McIlraith: http://www.peelingbackhistory.co.nz/glentunnel-james-mcilraith-1834-1903/ Photo taken by Annette Bulovic
James McIlraith was the half brother of Jane Deans. He came to New Zealand with two of his brothers, Hugh and George from Scotland, to help Jane after the death of her husband (John Deans I) in 1854. He went on to manage Homebush even after his nephew John Deans II came of age and …
The Albert Edward Oak, the oldest tree in the Botanical Gardens. This tree was planted on the 9th July 1863 in celebration of the marriage of Prince Albert to Princess Alexandra of Denmark. This tree is now regarded to be the beginning of the gardens that we know today. Prior to 1863, the gardens were …
Captain Joseph Thomas is easily the most forgotten man in Christchurch’s history. Born in 1803, Joseph was educated at the Royal Military College – so naturally he spent the beginning of his working life in the Army. He served in India and the West Indies, retiring in 1830. He travelled to South America where he …
