Parkin's Villa, 75 Clemow Road (circa 1900s)

This villa was constructed for Thomas (Tom) Parkin and his family sometime in the 1900s - the exact date, architect, and builder are currently unknown. 

Thomas Parkin (under the name of his wife, Matilda Rebecca Parkin), purchased this portion of Section 95 Fitzroy District (now subdivided and much reduced in size), in 1888, from Oliver Knuckey, who had recently been declared bankrupt. At the time of purchase, the Parkin's were already renting the section from Knuckey, and likely lived in the cottage at present 67 Clemow Road, which was part of the original section. This smaller cottage was probably constructed by either the Parkin's, or a member of the Knuckey family, who had owned the section since the 1860s. 

Thomas Parkin and his son Roy formed the gravel crushing and carrying firm of T & R Parkins and were awarded many contracts for forming and gravelling roads in the district - much of the required stone was sourced from the nearby Waiwakaiho River. 

Matilda Parkin died in 1909, and Thomas Parkin in 1919.

Related items:

Fitzroy District, Section 95: Taranaki Land Deeds Index I4, page 340 and I14 page 278 (Archives New Zealand)

Taranaki DP1100 Sheet 1 (1897), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP3283 Sheet 1 (1914), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP4451 Sheet 1 (1924), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)