Wood Residence, 334 Devon Street West (1885)

This home was constructed in 1885 for James Hart Senior, who purchased Section Y of Part Town Belt A in August 1882.

Hart was proprietor of the Windsor Castle Hotel for a number of years until mid-1885, when the licence was taken over by his son, James Hart Junior in June 1885. Hart Senior, upon leaving hotel proprietorship, started a fish/oyster/fruit shop in Brougham Street - this would later become the Taranaki Oyster Saloon.

Given hotel proprietors generally lived on the premises, upon leaving the Windsor Castle Hotel, Hart is likely to have needed to find accommodation, and it seems he had the present house constructed in early-mid 1885, with a second mortgage taken out against the property in February 1885 likely relating to the construction of the present dwelling. Further supporting a construction date of early-mid 1885, is an advertisement placed in the Taranaki Herald in September 1885, advertising Section Y of Town Belt A for sale with "newly erected 4-roomed dwelling". 

Wood remained at the home until his death in January 1905, following which ownership passed the Public Trustee, who rented out the house. The Public Trustee retained possession until the property was purchased by T. P. Pruden during mid-1923. Pruden appears to have continued renting out the house until mid-1926, when ownership of the property was conveyed to Amelia Rankin, wife of labourer Charles William Rankin.

Related items:

Town Belt A, Taranaki Land Deed Index I1 page 556. (Archives New Zealand)

Town Belt (Part) A, Taranaki Land Deed Index I14 page 861. (Archives New Zealand)

Section Y Town Belt A, Taranaki Land Deed Index I14 page 440. (Archives New Zealand)

Taranaki DEED14 Sheet 1 (1881), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)