C.C. Ward Ltd. Building (1928)

This Devon Street East building has remained relatively unaltered since it was built in 1928.

Plans were drawn up by Messenger, Griffiths and Taylor in 1928, however in the C.C. Ward Ltd. centennial supplement published on 15 June 1992, it was said that the onset of the depression delayed its construction. This might not be correct, as the Taranaki Daily News told readers in October 1928 that the old shop had been demolished, "to allow the contractors to complete our new building".

On 11 December 1928 the same newspaper reported that the new building was complete, and the business would be holding a "7 days' introduction sale". This building completed a link from Devon Street East through to the Currie Street premises. 

The original plans are held in the archives at Puke Ariki. (ARC2009-153)

In 1992, C.C. Ward Ltd. celebrated 100 years of trading on the same site in New Plymouth. 

The building is presently (2024) unoccupied. 

In August 2024 the back of this building and the one on Currie Street were demolished as part of a refurbishment project - the facades will remain intact. 

Town Section 907 (subdivided c1876 Deeds Plan 8), Taranaki Land Deed Index I1 Page 401 and I5 Pages 294 & 295. 

(Both this building and the one on Currie Street are registered as a category 2 historic places with Heritage New Zealand) 

Related Documents:

Taranaki's Largest Drapery House (Taranaki Herald 9 March 1940)

C.C. Ward Ltd. 1895-1976 (Advertisement in TNL Centennial Supplement 1976)

End of an era: Lamson cash railway system (Daily News 29 January 1981)

Family ends 90 years of service (Taranaki Herald 1 November 1984)

Escalator Installed (Daily News 10 June 1985)

C.C. Ward - Devon Street East (1995 NPDC CBD Heritage Study)

Summer season last for long-established retail store (Taranaki Daily News 10 July 2013)

Back Of Historic Buildings Demolished (Taranaki Daily News 21 August 2024)