A permit was granted to New Plymouth Surveyor Thomas Gore Sole on 8 March 1907 for the construction of a residence on Watson Street - Michael J. Jones was the architect and likely the builder, and the estimated construction cost was £677.
The Sole family appear to have lived in the home until about mid-1911, when Thomas advertised the home for rent.
T. G. Sole was born in New Plymouth on 6 September 1858 to prominent settlers Thomas and Sarah Sole. He joined the Survey Department in the Provincial Government in 1875 and trained to become a surveyor. On passing his examinations, he joined in partnership with Thomas Kingwell Skinner and was involved in the survey of railway routes throughout the district. The partnership with Skinner was disolved in 1890, and Sole became a farmer for some years, before returning to practice as a surveyor in April 1894.
The only other known surviving New Plymouth building to have been designed by Michael Jones is the former Criterion Stables located at 40 King Street.
The villa is designed in the Eastern Stick Style, with the stickwork decoration on the gable-ends a characteristic feature of this style. The home retains many original external features including ship-lap cladding, brick chimneys, and double-hung sash windows.
Related plans:
Taranaki DP1098 Sheet 1 (1897), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
Taranaki DP2142 Sheet 1 (1904), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)
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