Arthur Bignell
Encyclopedia
Arthur Bignell was Mayor
of Wanganui
from 1904 - 1906, and a notable builder
in Oamaru
, the West Coast
, Wanganui
and the Rangitikei
district.
, London
, in 1861. He was educated at Richmond, Surrey, and emigrated to New Zealand
with his brother Fred in 1876, at 15 years of age.
in Dunedin
and was employed by his uncle Henry in Oamaru where they worked on the original Oamaru
Railway Station. He and Fred made a return trip to England
in 1884 to assist the emigration of his parents and siblings to New Zealand. Upon returning the Bignell firm won the contract to construct bridges and buildings on the Midland Line
.
In late 1887 the Bignells moved to Greymouth
on the West Coast
. In 1888 he married Florence Simpson, with whom he became father of five children: Arthur, Florence, Cecil, Winifred and Mostyn. In 1891 he entered into partnership with Robert Russell, and in 1892 Russell and Bignell Ltd. moved to Wanganui
where they won the contract for the construction of Wanganui Hospital
. Russell and Bignell Ltd. went on to include within their firm the business and contracts of notable local builder Mr. James Tawse upon his retirement.
, just south of the town centre.
According to Wanganui’s ‘Familiar Faces 1907’;
and Chairman of Gonville Town Board. He was a member of the Patriotic Association, St. Andrew Kilwinning
Lodge
and Wanganui Jockey
club, a founding member of the local Rotary club, and also a member of a local bowling
club.
Arthur Bignell died in Wanganui in 1944, aged 82.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Wanganui
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
from 1904 - 1906, and a notable builder
Construction worker
A construction worker or builder is a professional, tradesman, or labourer who directly participates in the physical construction of infrastructure.-Construction trades:...
in Oamaru
Oamaru
Oamaru , the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, is the main town in the Waitaki District. It is 80 kilometres south of Timaru and 120 kilometres north of Dunedin, on the Pacific coast, and State Highway 1 and the railway Main South Line connects it to both...
, the West Coast
West Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
, Wanganui
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
and the Rangitikei
Rangitikei District
The Rangitikei District is a Territorial Authority located primarily in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region in the North Island of New Zealand, although a small part, the town of Ngamatea , of it lies in the Hawke's Bay Region...
district.
Family & Emigration
Arthur Gorbell Bignell was born to George Bignell and Emily Eliza Bignell (née Foy) in IlfordIlford
Ilford is a large cosmopolitan town in East London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Redbridge. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It forms a significant commercial and retail...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, in 1861. He was educated at Richmond, Surrey, and emigrated to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
with his brother Fred in 1876, at 15 years of age.
Building
Bignell trained as a carpenterCarpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
and was employed by his uncle Henry in Oamaru where they worked on the original Oamaru
Oamaru
Oamaru , the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, is the main town in the Waitaki District. It is 80 kilometres south of Timaru and 120 kilometres north of Dunedin, on the Pacific coast, and State Highway 1 and the railway Main South Line connects it to both...
Railway Station. He and Fred made a return trip to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1884 to assist the emigration of his parents and siblings to New Zealand. Upon returning the Bignell firm won the contract to construct bridges and buildings on the Midland Line
Midland Line, New Zealand
The Midland line is a 212 km section of railway between Rolleston and Greymouth in the South Island of New Zealand. The line features five major bridges, five viaducts and 17 tunnels, the longest of which is the Otira tunnel.-Freight services:...
.
In late 1887 the Bignells moved to Greymouth
Greymouth
Greymouth is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The population of the whole Grey District is , which accounts for % of the West Coast's inhabitants...
on the West Coast
West Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
. In 1888 he married Florence Simpson, with whom he became father of five children: Arthur, Florence, Cecil, Winifred and Mostyn. In 1891 he entered into partnership with Robert Russell, and in 1892 Russell and Bignell Ltd. moved to Wanganui
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
where they won the contract for the construction of Wanganui Hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
. Russell and Bignell Ltd. went on to include within their firm the business and contracts of notable local builder Mr. James Tawse upon his retirement.
Wanganui Mayoralty
Bignell was elected Mayor of Wanganui in 1904, a position he held for two years until 1906. A street was named after him along the western bank of Wanganui RiverWanganui River
The Wanganui River is located in the western South Island of New Zealand. It flows northwest for 55 kilometres from its headwaters in the Southern Alps, entering the Tasman Sea near Lake Ianthe, 40 kilometres southwest of Hokitika....
, just south of the town centre.
According to Wanganui’s ‘Familiar Faces 1907’;
- "The Mayoralty of A.G.B. was characterized by uniform courtesy to the crew of Councillors over whom he presided, a clear grasp of all questions affecting the welfare of the people, and an ambition to act on the square with all and sundry. His good works are many, his friends numerous, and his enemies very scarce."
Other Affairs
As well as working as builder and Mayor, Bignell was involved in various other roles in the fledgling city of Wanganui. He served as Chairman of the Harbour Board, Chairman of Wanganui Collegiate SchoolWanganui Collegiate School
Wanganui Collegiate School is an independent, coeducational, day and boarding secondary school in Wanganui, New Zealand. The school is affiliated to the Anglican church.-About:...
and Chairman of Gonville Town Board. He was a member of the Patriotic Association, St. Andrew Kilwinning
Lodge Mother Kilwinning
Lodge Mother Kilwinning is a Masonic Lodge in Kilwinning, Scotland under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. It is number 0 on the Roll, and is reputed to be the oldest Lodge not only in Scotland, but the world...
Lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
and Wanganui Jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
club, a founding member of the local Rotary club, and also a member of a local bowling
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
club.
Arthur Bignell died in Wanganui in 1944, aged 82.
Russell & Bignell Buildings
Notable Russell and Bignell buildings include:- Oamaru Railway Station
- Original Wanganui Hospital (since demolished)
- Flock HouseFlock HouseFlock House was an agricultural and farm training school in Bulls, Rangitikei District, New Zealand from 1924 until 1987.From 1924 to 1937 sons of British seamen that had been killed or wounded during World War I were brought over, trained at Flock House, and placed on farms in New Zealand, to...
Homestead and McKelvie Flagpole - Pukemarama Homestead
- The Grand Hotel, Wanganui