Little is currently known about the history of this cottage, although it was probably constructed in the mid-1860s for Thomas Clare following the conclusion of the Taranaki Wars. It appears the cottage has now (2024) been demolished.
There had been some suggestion that the cottage may be pre-1860, although this seems unlikely given Charles Clare's original two-storey home (probably on this section) was destroyed in 1860.
The original portion of the cottage was the eastern section, mainly clad in plain weatherboard, but with some vertical board and batten cladding at the rear. The plain weatherboard cladding was likely original, and given the width of the boards, they were probably Kauri. This section also retained some of its original twelve-light double-hung sash windows (in various states of repair).
Sections 3 and 4 Bell District were granted to Charles Clare in the 1850s. Charles Clare was living at Bell Block in the 1850s where he constructed a two-storied home - it appears this was destroyed by fire in 1860.
Charles Clare died in 1864, and the sections passed to his son Thomas Clare, who appears to have lived there until at least the 1880s.
Related items:
Bell District, Section 3, Taranaki Land Deeds Index I2 pages 358. (Archives New Zealand)
Bell District, Section 4, Taranaki Land Deeds Index I2 pages 360. (Archives New Zealand)
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