This house at 78 Young Street was located at the top of a steep bank with no access from Young Street itself. It is likely vehicle access was from St Aubyn Street. The house appears to be comprised of the original 19th century vertical board and batten clad cottage on the St Aubyn Street side, joined with a more recent two-storey asbestos sheet clad addition closer to Young Street. The Skinner family, including surveyor and historian, W. H. Skinner, lived in the older section of the house from 1863. W. H. Skinner notes in his autobiography Reminiscences of a Taranaki Surveyor that the family "moved to our new home in St. Aubyn - Young Street in 1863, on the occasion of my father retiring from business" (p.10).
In 1863 the area was a hive of military activity, with W. H. Skinner recalling:
"At the back entrance of our home stood Fort Murray block house, on the site of an ancient Maori Pa overlooking the Mangaotuku Stream [near present Duke Place]. The block adjoining this, between Weymouth and Morley Streets and Young Street and the stream, was entirely occupied by long rows of stables accommodating the horses, wagons, and other transport requirements of the army. The constant bugle calls and general activity of the camp were of never-failing interest to our household". (p.16).
The entire structure was demolished in early 2016.
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