Bingham House, 95 Vivian Street (Built in 1908/1952 to 1991)

In June 1952 six elderly women settled into Bingham House on Vivian Street, each with their own room and cooking facilities. The house was owned by the New Plymouth Council for Social Services, an incorporated society set up in the late 1940s with an aim to provide safe, comfortable accommodation for widows or unmarried women over the age of 65 who were able to care for themselves. In 1955, the Minister of Health suggested this might be a "prototype for the rest of New Zealand". 

The driving force behind the project was a committee of four women who met together in 1947 with the aim to provide a home for elderly women. Mrs J. Davie, Mrs D.M. Findlay, Mrs M.G Parker and Mrs J. Burgess formed an incorporated society with intention of applying to the Supreme Court for the right to use money bequeathed by a Mrs Bingham for this purpose.

Mrs Clara Emily Mary Bingham had drowned in the lower lake at Pukekura Park on 7 July 1941. Her body had been found by a park employee at 12.30 pm and it was thought she had fallen in the lake either the previous night or early in the morning. She was later identified as Mrs Bingham, a widow living in Pendarves Street. Her husband Fred Bingham, a well-known railway locomotive driver, had died in January 1934.

At the inquest, it was concluded that she had entered the water sometime after 7.00 a.m.; there was no evidence of foul play and that she was likely to have died of acute heart failure. The couple had no children, and, in her will, Mrs Bingham had said the proceeds from her estate were to be used for establishment of a home for elderly women, but it was not to be "administered by a hospital or charitable aid board". 

In late December 1950 the Supreme Court decided that the New Plymouth Council for Social Services Incorporated was the most suitable body to administer the Bingham bequest. After expenses were deducted from the sum of £3,636, the council was left with £2,200. 

In April 1951 the Council bought the Morey family home at 95 Vivian Street. The conversion of the house into six flats began almost immediately, each containing a bed-sitting room and a kitchenette. A lounge, washing and toilet facilities were shared. 

In October 1954 the public were invited to an open day at Bingham House to celebrate the completion of the tenth flat. In 1968 the neighbouring house was purchased for $11,000. This was converted into six flats and given the name Tuarua House. 

In February 1989 the Taranaki Herald reported that the society running the two houses had decided unanimously to close them due to a drop in demand for homes like this. The availability of pensioners' flats and other accommodation, as well as the cost of running the Vivian Street properties all contributed to the decision. Tuarua House was relocated, but it's not known whether Bingham House was moved off the site or demolished. 

In 1992 the Salvation Army opened the "Bingham Court Independent Living Units' in Bell Block for elderly people. It was reported that that a substantial portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Vivian Street houses was donated by the Bingham House Trust to the Bell Block project. 

An after-hours medical centre was eventually built on the Vivian Street site.  

*A permit was issued by the Borough Council to James Clewer Morey on 3 March 1908 for a residence on Town Section 352 and it's likely that this relates to 95 Vivian Street. The estimated cost was £590, and the architect was listed as Frank Messenger. 

Related items:

Bingham House opens this week (Taranaki Herald 17 June 1952)

A garden for Bingham House (Taranaki Herald 21 June 1952)

Happy tenants at Bingham House (Taranaki Herald 20 September 1952)

A dream that came true (NZ Woman's Weekly 16 April 1953 page 12, page 13 and page 38)

Additions made to Bingham House (Taranaki Daily News 25 October 1954)

Social Welfare Minister praises Bingham House (Press 25 October 1955 p2)

$500 gift good start to Bingham appeal (Daily News 29 April 1969)

Bingham House brings happiness to women (Taranaki Herald 13 March 1970)

Bingham, Tuarua homes may close (Taranaki Herald 15 March 1989)

Bingham House challenge (Daily News 18 May 1989)

Bell Block site of units for old folk (Daily News 18 July 1991)

New building just part of doctor's plans (Daily News 6 Feb 1996)