James Scanlan's Villa, 58 Victoria Road (1909)

This corner bay villa was constructed in 1909 and was originally the home of New Plymouth businessman James Scanlan and his family.

This area of Town Belt C was originally subdivided into smaller suburban sections for J. C. George in 1893. Allotments 19 and 20 at the corner of Victoria Road and George Street were later purchased by Mrs Mary Lewis, who had them subdivided in April 1909. 

Following subdivision, the eastern allotment was purchased by Mr James Scanlan, who was at the time the New Plymouth manager of the Melbourne Clothing Company. Later that year, Scanlan commissioned noted New Plymouth architects Sanderson & Griffiths (James Sanderson and Horace Victor Griffiths), to design a new house for the section, with the firm advertising for tenders for the "erection of a residence at Vogeltown for Mr Scanlon [sic]" during early August 1909.

A 1912-13 rating book for Hurworth Riding notes Scanlan as the ratepayer for Parts 19 & 20 of Town Belt C, with the property valued at £42.

Scanlan later had the house at nearby 52 Victoria Road constructed in 1929.

Related items:

Town Belt C, Taranaki Land Deed Index I4 Page 325 and Taranaki Land Deed Index I13 Pages 189. (Archives New Zealand)

Taranaki DP554 Sheet 1 (1893), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP2667 Sheet 1 (1909), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)