This attractive two-storied villa was constructed for Charlie Emanuel Bellringer about 1900-01. It was located on the present site of Big Save Furniture, 306 Devon Street East (Town Section 1455) and was demolished in April 1972.
The NPBC rates book for 1900-01 doesn't mention a house as being present on Town Sections 1455 & 1480 (both owned by Bellringer) and the property is valued at just £15. However, by the following 1901-02 rating year a house is noted as being present and the valuation has increased to £60.
The architect was almost certainly Frank Messenger, with surviving 17 Vivian Street and 113 Carrington Street almost identical in design to this house - both were known to have been designed by Messenger.
Charlie and his family resided in this house until the 1910s when they shifted to the house at present 67 Victoria Road.
Related items:
Town Section 1455, Taranaki Land Deed Index I1 page 383. (Archives New Zealand)
Taranaki DP1393 Sheet 1 (1898), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
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