Cranmer Centre
Encyclopedia
The Cranmer Centre was a historic building in Christchurch
, New Zealand. Its original use, until 1986, was as the Christchurch Girls' High School
, the second high school for girls in the country. Registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
as a Category I heritage building, it was purchased by Arts Centre of Christchurch
Trust in 2001, and demolished in May 2011 following the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
passed the building on its central city circuit along Armagh Street.
, founder of the Church of England
.
Christchurch Girls' High, second high school for girls in New Zealand, was established in 1877. It was preceded by Otago Girls' High School
, which is believed to be the oldest secondary girls' school in the Southern Hemisphere
. After a year in temporary accommodation, the girls school moved into new premises on the corner of Hereford Street and Rolleston Avenue designed by Thomas Cane (1830–1905), immediately adjacent to the Canterbury College
. That building is these days part of the Arts Centre
.
Cane's building soon ran out of room, and William Barnett Armson, who had previously been employed by the provincial council
, was commissioned to design a new building in 1879. It is believed that Armson carried out the design work in 1880 and it was built the following year by the firm of Greig and Hunter. The school opened in September 1881.
Additions and renovations were made in 1907 and 1912 by Collins and Harman. Subsequent additions and alterations in 1936–1941 and 1961 were by Collins Architects.
After the Girls' High School moved to its new site in Deans Avenue in 1986, the old building was leased to the Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust on a long-term lease and used for arts, cultural, social service and community groups. The Crown sold the land and buildings to Ngāi Tahu
, and in 2001, it was sold to the Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust.
The building was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980, and on 24 February 1994, the structure became registered (No. 1849) with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
as a Category I heritage building.
Following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the building was damaged and found to contain the toxic substance asbestos
. It was demolished in May 2011; all that was remaining for a while was the main entrance portal on Armagh Street, but this was removed some weeks later.
. Concrete foundations and brick masonry walls were used in the original construction as well as the additions of 1907 and 1912. External and internal walls are of brick. The windows had sandstone facing features. The roof was characterised by timber sarking and slate sheathing. Roofing over the hall/library was replaced in 1989 after a fire.
As part of the 1907 addition, the gabled entrance was relocated to the east end of the new building, while it was originally located at the northeast porch area. The entrance has Corinthian pilaster
s and displays the original crest of Canterbury College above the architrave, demonstrating the links that the school had with the university at its previous site. The crest is inscribed "Ergo tua rura manebunt", meaning "therefore may your fields prosper"; this refers to the then extensive landholdings that the college had been given by the provincial government
that were earning it an income.
One of the building's notable feature had been constructural polychromy
.
), the second woman to graduate from a British university, was Principal of Christchurch Girls' High School from 1882 to 1894.
Two students of the school, Juliet Hulme
and Pauline Parker
, made world news in 1954 when they killed Pauline's mother in Victoria Park
. The murder became the basis of several works of literature and film. The most famous of these is Peter Jackson
's 1994 film Heavenly Creatures
.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand. Its original use, until 1986, was as the Christchurch Girls' High School
Christchurch Girls' High School
Christchurch Girls' High School in Christchurch, New Zealand, was established in 1877 and is the second oldest girls' secondary school in the country . Christchurch Girls' High School was established before Christchurch Boys' High School . The first headmistress was Mrs...
, the second high school for girls in the country. Registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
as a Category I heritage building, it was purchased by Arts Centre of Christchurch
Christchurch Arts Centre
The Christchurch Arts Centre is a hub for arts, crafts and entertainment in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is located in the neo-gothic former University of Canterbury buildings, the majority of which were designed by Benjamin Mountfort...
Trust in 2001, and demolished in May 2011 following the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
Geography
The centre was located on the south-west corner of Armagh and Montreal Streets by Cranmer Square. On the opposite side was the Christchurch Normal School, later renamed Cranmer Courts. The Christchurch heritage tramChristchurch tramway system
The Christchurch tramway system was an extensive network in Christchurch, New Zealand, with steam and horse trams from 1882. Electric trams ran from 1905 to 1954, when the last line to Papanui was replaced by buses...
passed the building on its central city circuit along Armagh Street.
History
The Cranmer Centre is named after Cranmer Square, which takes its name from Thomas CranmerThomas Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer was a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I. He helped build a favourable case for Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon which resulted in the separation of the English Church from...
, founder of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
.
Christchurch Girls' High, second high school for girls in New Zealand, was established in 1877. It was preceded by Otago Girls' High School
Otago Girls' High School
Otago Girls' High School is a secondary school in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. It was opened 6 February 1871, after a long campaign by educationalist Learmonth Whyte Dalrymple...
, which is believed to be the oldest secondary girls' school in the Southern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
. After a year in temporary accommodation, the girls school moved into new premises on the corner of Hereford Street and Rolleston Avenue designed by Thomas Cane (1830–1905), immediately adjacent to the Canterbury College
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
. That building is these days part of the Arts Centre
Christchurch Arts Centre
The Christchurch Arts Centre is a hub for arts, crafts and entertainment in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is located in the neo-gothic former University of Canterbury buildings, the majority of which were designed by Benjamin Mountfort...
.
Cane's building soon ran out of room, and William Barnett Armson, who had previously been employed by the provincial council
Canterbury Province
The Canterbury Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. On the east coast the province was bounded by the Hurunui River in the north and the Waitaki River in the south...
, was commissioned to design a new building in 1879. It is believed that Armson carried out the design work in 1880 and it was built the following year by the firm of Greig and Hunter. The school opened in September 1881.
Additions and renovations were made in 1907 and 1912 by Collins and Harman. Subsequent additions and alterations in 1936–1941 and 1961 were by Collins Architects.
After the Girls' High School moved to its new site in Deans Avenue in 1986, the old building was leased to the Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust on a long-term lease and used for arts, cultural, social service and community groups. The Crown sold the land and buildings to Ngāi Tahu
Ngāi Tahu
Ngāi Tahu, or Kāi Tahu, is the principal Māori iwi of the southern region of New Zealand, with the tribal authority, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, being based in Christchurch and Invercargill. The iwi combines three groups, Kāi Tahu itself, and Waitaha and Kāti Mamoe who lived in the South Island prior...
, and in 2001, it was sold to the Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust.
The building was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980, and on 24 February 1994, the structure became registered (No. 1849) with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
as a Category I heritage building.
Following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the building was damaged and found to contain the toxic substance asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
. It was demolished in May 2011; all that was remaining for a while was the main entrance portal on Armagh Street, but this was removed some weeks later.
Architecture
The building was of Venetian Gothic architectureVenetian Gothic architecture
Venetian Gothic is a term given to an architectural style combining use of the Gothic lancet arch with Byzantine and Moorish architecture influences. The style originated in 14th century Venice with the confluence of Byzantine styles from Constantinople, Arab influences from Moorish Spain and early...
. Concrete foundations and brick masonry walls were used in the original construction as well as the additions of 1907 and 1912. External and internal walls are of brick. The windows had sandstone facing features. The roof was characterised by timber sarking and slate sheathing. Roofing over the hall/library was replaced in 1989 after a fire.
As part of the 1907 addition, the gabled entrance was relocated to the east end of the new building, while it was originally located at the northeast porch area. The entrance has Corinthian pilaster
Pilaster
A pilaster is a slightly-projecting column built into or applied to the face of a wall. Most commonly flattened or rectangular in form, pilasters can also take a half-round form or the shape of any type of column, including tortile....
s and displays the original crest of Canterbury College above the architrave, demonstrating the links that the school had with the university at its previous site. The crest is inscribed "Ergo tua rura manebunt", meaning "therefore may your fields prosper"; this refers to the then extensive landholdings that the college had been given by the provincial government
Canterbury Province
The Canterbury Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. On the east coast the province was bounded by the Hurunui River in the north and the Waitaki River in the south...
that were earning it an income.
One of the building's notable feature had been constructural polychromy
Polychrome
Polychrome is one of the terms used to describe the use of multiple colors in one entity. It has also been defined as "The practice of decorating architectural elements, sculpture, etc., in a variety of colors." Polychromatic light is composed of a number of different wavelengths...
.
Notable people
Helen Macmillan Brown (née Connon; wife of John Macmillan BrownJohn Macmillan Brown
John Macmillan Brown was a Scottish-New Zealand academic, administrator and promoter of education for women.Brown was born in Irvine, the sixth child of Ann Brown and her husband, James Brown, a sea captain. John was raised in a family that placed high value on education—for both sexes...
), the second woman to graduate from a British university, was Principal of Christchurch Girls' High School from 1882 to 1894.
Two students of the school, Juliet Hulme
Anne Perry
Anne Perry is an English author of historical detective fiction. Perry was convicted of the murder of her friend's mother in 1954.-Early life:Born Juliet Marion Hulme in Blackheath, London, the daughter of Dr...
and Pauline Parker
Pauline Parker
Pauline Yvonne Parker is a woman from Christchurch, New Zealand who, together with her friend Juliet Hulme , murdered her mother, Honora Rieper, on 22 June 1954...
, made world news in 1954 when they killed Pauline's mother in Victoria Park
Victoria Park, Christchurch
Victoria Park is a large recreational area on the Port Hills above Christchurch, New Zealand.-Description:The park was formally opened by William Rolleston on 22 June 1897 for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria....
. The murder became the basis of several works of literature and film. The most famous of these is Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson
Sir Peter Robert Jackson, KNZM is a New Zealand film director, producer, actor, and screenwriter, known for his The Lord of the Rings film trilogy , adapted from the novel by J. R. R...
's 1994 film Heavenly Creatures
Heavenly Creatures
Heavenly Creatures is a 1994 film directed by Peter Jackson, from a screenplay he co-wrote with his wife Fran Walsh, about the notorious 1954 Parker-Hulme murder case in Christchurch, New Zealand. Filmed on location in Christchurch, it features Melanie Lynskey and Kate Winslet in their screen debuts...
.