Arnold's Cottage no.2, 131 Lemon Street (c1876 - 1877)

Along with neighbouring 129 Lemon Street, this bay cottage was likely erected during 1876 or 1877 by Alfred Hughes Arnold. 

The original recipient of the Crown Grant for Town Section 1589 was James Marsh, although it was not officially authorised until 1884, long after Marsh had disposed of his interest in the property to J.L. Stanners in 1875. 

Stanners sold the property to Alfred Hughes Arnold in July 1876 and the cottages are clearly indicated on a map of New Plymouth drawn of New Plymouth drawn by Thomas Kingwell Skinner that year. Arnold is listed as living in Lemon Street in the 1878-79 edition of Wises Street Directory, hence the estimated date of construction of 1876 or 1877. 

Arnold subdivided the property in 1879, selling the eastern section to Walter Henry Atkinson, and retaining ownership of the western portion. Arnold later became a partner in the once prominent New Plymouth ironmongery and hardware firm Okey, Arnold & Earp.  

In May 1883, Atkinson sold the property to A. Chivers, who also only owned it for a couple of years, before selling it to W.H. Free in September 1885. In May 1888, the property was conveyed to the Taranaki Loan and Building Society, who retained ownership until December 1896, when it was purchased by E.P. Lister. Lister remained the owner until title was issued under the Land Transfer Act in 1928. 

Related items:

Arnold's Cottage No.2, 131 Lemon Street, New Plymouth, Draft Heritage Assessment (Hamish Crimp, 2019).

Town section 1589 (Eastern Moiety), Taranaki Land Deed Index I5 page 202 and I5 Page 539 (Archives New Zealand)