John Wilson Local historian

Christchurch’s Love of the Gothic

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"It had quite a remarkable architectural character as an overall area."

John Wilson

Venetian gothic style architecture

From the mid-1800s commercial architecture experienced a revival in the use of venetian gothic detailing using stone and brick masonry reminiscent of the Gothic palaces of Venice. Such details included patterned brickwork and polychromy, arcading, simple stone tracery and arched windows grouped in rectangular panels.

Italianate style architecture

Italianate style architecture was most often displayed in commercial building frontage design into the late 1800s featuring stone and brick masonry in the Italian palazzo style. Modelled on the sixteenth-century Renaissance palaces of Florence and Rome, Italian palazzo buildings often featured large projecting cornices, bracketed eaves, strong horizontal lines and sometimes the expression of columns.

  • Photo by Doc Ross
  • Image: Heritage New Zealand
  • Tuam Street, Christchurch. Marks, J M fl 1905 : Photographs of Christchurch and environs, 1890s-1910s. Ref: 1/1-000465-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Image: Heritage New Zealand
  • Image: Heritage New Zealand
  • Image: Heritage New Zealand
  • Image: Heritage New Zealand
  • Image: Heritage New Zealand

Building information

Fisher’s Building 280 High Street Cnr Hereford and High street Date: 1870 – 1880s Architect: William Armson Previously registered as a Category 2 historic place A.J. White's Department Store (former) 236 Tuam Street Architect: AW Simpson Date:1878-1879 Previously registered Category 1 historic place