THE BRIDLE PATH

The Bridle Path symbolizes a lot of different things to many different people.  As a Canterbury historian, my heart jumps in my ribcage every time I see it and I am not even a descendant of a family that walked over it 150 years ago.  My British parents and older brothers would make the same …

“Wind Lulled From Evening Till Morning…” ~ The Last Month Aboard The Charlotte Jane

“On board the Charlotte Jane…I try to recollect the events of the past five days, which from confusion, sickness and disagreeables of every kind could not be recorded at the time…”Edward Ward – 12th September 1850.The Charlotte Jane had sailed out of Plymouth on the 7th September 1850. Edward starts his journal off on the …

The First Four Ships & Lyttelton

A great view of Lyttelton in 1851, showing the first four ships docked in the harbour. The first jetty with the immigration barracks is to the right 🙂

What An Event!!!!

I can never look at a view of our beautiful Lyttelton Harbour without looking for the ‘Charlotte Jane’ to come sailing around the corner of the heads – just like she would have done on the 16th December 1850, carrying the first of our Anglican settlers. So would have loved to have seen that historic …

Cyrus Davie (1821 – 1871)

Cyrus Davie will always hold the most interesting record regarding our first four ships. He was the only passenger who made the journey on two of them!!! From what I understand though, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Cyrus – as most of the settlers would have done too – took life by …

List Of Canterbury Association Ships – 1850/51

It’s well known knowledge that the first four ships were the Charlotte Jane, the Randolph, the Sir George Seymour and the Cressy. 16 more Canterbury Association ships followed them in 1851 :- * Castle Eden * Isabella Hercus * Travancore * Duke of Bronte * Steadfast * Labuan * Bangalore – pictured above – arrived …

The Canterbury Association Plaque

We celebrate (well, we should more often) the arrival of the First Four Ships – the Charlotte Jane, Randolph, Sir George Seymour and the Cressy – when in reality, they should number as the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th ship instead! The Canterbury Association sent over 16 ships to Lyttelton before the Charlotte Jane sailed …

Christchurch Coat Of Arms

The Coat of Arms for the City of Christchurch, New Zealand. Was designed and adopted by the Christchurch City Council in 1949. A coat of arms is broken down into these things: A Crest, Torse, Escutcheon, Supporters, Compartment and a Motto. So, ready for the break down of this crest for the us common men …

The First Four Ships

The first four ships in order of arrival: the Charlotte Jane, the Randolph, the Sir George Seymour and the Cressy. All four ships brought a total of 791 pilgrims to Canterbury in 1850. To rent a cabin for your journey, it would cost you £42. To travel intermediate class it would cost you £25 and …

St Michael’s & All Angels – Christchurch’s 1st Church

Our First Four Ships carried more than just settlers; they brought books, teachers, chaplains and church bells. The bell from the Charlotte Jane eventually found its home at St Michael and all Angels on Oxford Terrace.In 1851, a gathering of the Anglican settlers began on the church site in a V hut. This simple place …