This attractive villa was probably designed and constructed by Charles Howard Moore in late 1902 or early 1903 as his family home.
Charles Moore purchased this part of Native Reserve 1, Grey District, in September 1902, and first appears as living in 'Blagdon' in the 1903 edition of Stone's Street Directory - his occupation at the time is listed as a joiner. The Moore's remained at the property until 1921, when the farm was sold to 'Thompson'.
On 15 May 1909, Moore became the overseer (later architect) to the Taranaki Education Board, and was responsible for designing, building, and maintaining school buildings across Taranaki. During the 1920s Moore developed the 'Taranaki Type Free Air Classroom', claimed to be an improvement on the 'Fendalton Type Free Air Classroom', and it became the dominant design for Taranaki school classrooms from the mid-1920s until the late 1930s.
Related items:
Charles Moore Obituary (Taranaki Herald 5 May 1961)
Taranaki Land Deeds Index I14, page 59. (Archives New Zealand)
Taranaki SO9124 Sheet 1 (1959), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Taranaki DP9391 Sheet 1 (1964), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Please do not reproduce these images without permission from Puke Ariki.
Contact us for more information or you can order images online here.
