Crownhill Street

Unlike many New Plymouth street names, Crownhill Street appears not to be named after a person, or a place in England, or even a tree. Rather, in 1960 it was "appropriately named after the higher area of New Plymouth".

There is another Crown Hill in New Zealand, on Auckland's North Shore. It seems that Crown Hill refers to a small round hill that reminds viewers of the shape of a crown.

Our own Crownhill Street is in Spotswood, and enjoys proximity to Spotswood College and a nearby service station.

Crownhill Street's variable terrain makes it an ideal training ground should you decide to get fit by walking. You'll enjoy spectacular views of the city, the coast, the port and the ranges.

Even driving your car, stopping to fill your petrol tank at the mighty and enduring Spotswood service station, you'll catch glimpses of the same stunning views. Walking is, of course, recommended, since that mode gives you the opportunity to stop and contemplate.

In this mood you might reflect that such a hill would have been a perfect site for a pā. And you'd be right. Takahoe pā was on a ridge most easily accessed from Crownhill Street.

A site record form describes the area's archaeology and the natural defences on the western side of the pā, with two transverse ditch defences on the approach down the ridge and one on the spur end. A lateral ditch was on the east side only.

The southern end of the pā was bulldozed in 1977 for housing subdivision. The northern end was bulldozed in August 1978 - the record states "now totally destroyed".

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.