Sackville Street

Sackville is not a common name, and as a family name it is most often associated with the aristocracy. In 1868, The Honourable Lionel Sackville Sackville West, a career diplomat and Secretary to her Majesty’s Embassy at Berlin, moved to a similar role at the Paris Embassy.

Perhaps the most famous of the family was Vita Sackville-West, who scandalised the public with her friendships. She wrote extensively on gardening, and is remembered for designing and developing the gardens at Sissinghurst House in Kent.

In 1873, S.S. Sackville scored no runs in either innings as a batsman for the Burke’s Pass Eleven against Christ’s College.

Sackville Chase was a novel published in 1863 by Charles James Collins. It featured on lists published in the Taranaki Herald by book suppliers in the 1860s.

However, Sackville Street takes its name from none of these people. According to a list of street names and their origins compiled by local man Fred Butler, Sackville takes its name from a main thoroughfare through Dublin in Ireland.

Sackville Street in Fitzroy was briefly infamous in 1930 after the gruesome murder of Mrs Thompson by her estranged husband.

The suburb was opened for development as a result of the exertions of Callaghan & Co. The Taranaki Herald announced in its issue of 2 May 1902 that the property of Mr. J. W. Foote in Fitzroy was divided into 159 residential sections. Sackville was one of four streets running north and south through the estate.

Four months later, the Herald carried an enticing advertisement from Callaghan & Co: “Go down to the corner of Sackville and Devon-streets. Imagine the new Hēnui Bridge, and also the prices we quote you.”

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.