Ridd Street

Ridd Street runs off Doone Street in Lynmouth and, along with others in the area, took its name from Richard Blackmore’s 1869 novel Lorna Doone.

Formed in 1957, the street is located on land once owned by grocer Thomas Veale (1841-1931). Veale began developing the area into residential sections in 1903, with the Taranaki Daily News describing it as “magnificent property” possessing “an elevation of over 300 feet” and “a fine view of the surrounding country”. Sections could be had for as little as £45 (just over $10,000 in today’s money) on interest free payments which the agents claimed were “within the reach of a child”. The area was still known by locals as Veale’s Estate right up until the 1940s even though the suburb was officially termed Lynmouth, after a village in Devon, in 1904.

The name Ridd Street was first suggested to the New Plymouth Borough Council in the 1930s by historian William Henry Skinner (1857-1946). As Lorna and Doone Streets had already been named, Ridd seemed to Skinner to be the logical choice as far as characters went. But he also put forward Lyn Street, a shortened form of Lynmouth, as an option which was the next name adopted by the council at that time. It took another 20 years for Ridd Street to appear on a map of New Plymouth.

Blackmore’s historical romance takes place in the 1600s and centres around farmer John Ridd and his love for the beautiful noblewoman Lorna Doone. Set in Devonshire, birthplace of many of the first Pākehā immigrants to New Plymouth, its murderous villain Carver Doone plans to marry Lorna against her will. But John, who has secretly been courting Lorna despite the difference in their social stations, helps her escape. Carver tracks Lorna down and tries to kill her then drowns in a bog after fighting with John, leaving the star-crossed lovers free to be together.

Lorna Doone was both a critical and financial success, with fellow Victorian writers including Robert Louis Stevenson and Thomas Hardy pronouncing themselves fans. Thomas Veale was himself born and raised in Devonshire so perhaps Lorna Doone was also a special book for him.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.

Related documents

Taranaki DP2151 Ridd Street (1907) - ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP8135 Ridd Street (1957) - ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (imaged by LINZ)

Veale Estate purchase system (Taranaki Daily News 6 July 1903)

Death of Mr Thomas Veale (Taranaki Daily News 12 September 1931)