‘They passed this way’ That is the simple inscription on the Canterbury Pioneer Women’s Memorial, erected on the Bridle Path on the Summit road, overlooking Lyttelton and Christchurch. The Memorial commemorates the courage and hard work of the region’s pioneering…
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From the moment the names of Christchurch and Canterbury were adopted at the very first Canterbury Association meeting on 27th March 1848, these founding fathers wanted this new Anglican settlement to be built around religion and education. A cathedral and…
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To celebrate the arrival of the First Four Ships,The Canterbury Pilgrims & Early Settlers”Association are gathering at Pilgrims Rock, Oxford St, Lyttelton at 10am on the 16th December 2017, for a short commemorative service. All welcome. See the dresses of…
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The film ‘Canterbury is One Hundred’ was produced by the National Film Unit in 1950 to celebrate the region’s centennial. Written and directed by Oxley Hughan, it emphasises the bucolic agricultural productivity of the Canterbury region, particularly through the lambing…
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This flag will again fly in Cathedral Square. Some of you will recognise it as the Somes House Flag. Adopted flag of the Canterbury Pilgrims and Early Settlers’ it will fly proudly to commemorate the arrival of the first four…
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Around 6th December 1850, Charlotte Godley (pictured later in life), the wife of Canterbury Founder John Robert Godley, became the first European woman to venture west of the Deans’ farm of Riccarton. She was in a party of nine people heading…
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In December 1850, the first ships carrying British settlers arrived in Canterbury. Many of the colonists built huts along the Avon River in what is now North Hagley Park. This cluster of huts became known as Settlers Corner. …
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The Canterbury Pilgrims Three half-score years ago-no more, Since Godley stood upon the shore, A leader of the Pilgrims bold, Who framed the New upon the Old, And stamp’d the Old upon the New, ‘Neath speckless skies of sunny blue….
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They came to a land, rugged and brown, With never a road nor field nor a town. But league upon league hills, plain and spur, Of grass the colour of weasel’s fur. Of leafless bushes and sedges harsh, And rugged…
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