London Terrace

London Terrace is a short cul-de-sac running off Junction Road in Welbourn. It was surveyed in 1960 as part of a subdivision that included Durham Avenue and Lambton Terrace.

By the mid-1950s New Plymouth had a significant housing shortage. The economy was bouncing back after the war, and the population was growing quickly. This Welbourn subdivision was one of several large new housing areas planned for the rapidly expanding city.

The developer of this subdivision on the southern edge of town was New Plymouth builder Wilfred (Wilf) James Wood. He submitted a list of names to the Taranaki County Council and these were approved at a council meeting on 2 May 1960.

Although once again looking to England, the choice of London, England’s largest city and capital, was at least a change from the trend at the time of naming streets after places in south-west England.

Noted in the minutes of 2 May was the comment that “Council…approves renaming of the so-called Spitfire Road to London Terrace”. A 1950 aerial photograph clearly shows a narrow stretch of roadway leading off Junction Road at the very spot London Terrace would later be formed.

The origin of the informally named ‘Spitfire Road’ is unknown, although it presumably references the well-known fighter aircraft from WWII. Perhaps a reader has the answer to this?

Wilf Wood was described in his obituary as having “a thirst for involvement in community organisations and projects”. He was a Jaycee, President of the Fitzroy Rotary Club, a life member of the Youth Hostel Association and a New Plymouth City Councillor for nine years.

Wood also made a huge contribution to the building industry, overseeing the construction of more than 400 homes in the city and serving as president of the Taranaki branch of the Master Builders Federation.

Wilf Wood died while playing golf at Inglewood on 9 July 1995, leaving behind his wife Morna, four sons and two daughters.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.