Gothic Charm

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31088, 17 June 1966, Page 31 (Supplement)

Gothic Charm

While Christchurch grows and commercial buildings go higher, much of the charm and character of the city is found in the old grey stone buildings. Set in lawns and trees, they house many of the institutions of government, religion and learning planned by the Canterbury Association in England long before the First Four Ships arrived in 1850. One man, Mr B. W. Mountfort, the provincial architect, was the designer for much of the Gothic stone which distinguishes Christchurch from other New Zealand cities. The Cathedral, the council chamber in the old Provincial Buildings, the earlier parts of the University of Canterbury, some of Christ's College, the Trinity Congregational Church and some

other buildings are examples of the architect’s talent. Mr Mountfort came to Christchurch on the Charlotte Jane. He had trained under a famous English architect, Sir Gilbert Scott, who designed the Christchurch Cathedral. As successor to Sir Gilbert Scott’s resident architect, Mr Mountfort gave the Cathedral some of its principal features, providing it is said, a far more beautiful building than first visualised. The old Provincial Council Chamber, built in 1865, contains a wealth of detail and colour. There Mr Mountfort employed his gifts lavishly. The solid walls five feet and a half thick at the base, came from Halswell, Governor's Bay, Hoon Hay and Weka Pass stone.