127 Vivian Street (circa 1890s)

Clad in rusticated weatherboard, this villa is in largely original condition with its original single-pane double hung sash windows. 

Town Section 345 was subdivided, and the western section sold to Mrs Edith Jury in April 1895 - the current home may have been constructed for Mrs Jury soon after this date. DP1869, dated September 1902, lists William Finn as the occupier of Section 345, with Mrs Jury occupying the western portion of Section 344 - it thus seems likely that the property was rented to Finn by Mrs Jury.

In 1905, on the death of Mrs Jury, the property was purchased by L. W Alexander, who owned a large house on the corner of Morley and Vivian Streets - it was presumably rented until sold to 'Lye' by Alexander in January 1914.

Along with nearby villas on Mt Edgcumbe, Vivian and Powderham Streets, this building is part of a cluster of homes clearly illustrating the development of the villa from a simple square box with a front addition, to the more ornate home we commonly associate with villas - all within a relatively short time period (1890s-early 1900s).

Related items:

Town Section 345, Taranaki Land Deed Index I4 page 147. (Archives New Zealand)

Taranaki DP1869 Sheet 1 (1902), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki (Lot 1) DP5054 Sheet 1 (1929), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)