F. C. Jury's Cottage, 35 Gover Street (1896 - 2018)

This cottage was constructed for F. C. Jury around 1896. Jury purchased part of Town Section 1464 in 1893, and in September 1896 took out a second mortgage against the section - it is likely this second mortgage was used to fund construction of 35 Gover Street.

A construction date of 1896 is also supported by the style of the cottage - a simple north south gable, with the front clad in rusticated weatherboard, the sides clad in plain weatherboard (northern later replaced with rusticated), and double hung sash windows, with a brick chimney. Cottages of this style were once common in New Plymouth and primarily constructed in the 1890s-1900s. However, they were primarily located on the fringe of the original CBD and have thus mostly been demolished - this cottage was the only building of this style to survive within the CBD. For a surviving group of similar circa 1890s cottages see Morley Street between Vivian and Powderham Streets. 

This cottage was notable for its association with F. C Jury's shop, constructed in 1900 at neighbouring 37 Gover Street - pairings like this are now uncommon in New Plymouth (indeed in any New Zealand city), with usually only either the commercial premises or private residence remaining. 

The building was occupied by 'Steps' restaurant for many years, before being occupied by Italian restaurant 'Bella Vita'. The final business to occupy the cottage was Mediterranean Restaurant 'Kassaba', which closed several months before the removal of the building on 3 May 2018. 

Related items:

Town Section 1464, Taranaki Land Deed Index I5 Page 15 and I13 Page 218.

Taranaki DP520 Sheet 1 (1892), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)