The Old Stone House in Cracroft has been restored and strengthened at a cost of $2 million dollars. The house was built in 1870 by Sir John Cracroft Wilson as accommodation for his workers on the Cashmere estate. According to the building plaque (below), many of these workers were some of the earliest Indian families to settle in Christchurch.
If you are keen for a look inside the building, there will be an open day for the public on February the 17th from 1.30pm. You can learn more at https://cccgovtnz.cwp.govt.nz/the-council/future-projects/heritage/old-stone-house/
Christchurch Daily Photo 
6 responses to “Old Stone House in Cracroft Re-Opens”
I couldn’t help but to notice the blocks of porphyry and basalt used in the stonework around the bronze building plaque — just wonder if there is any history of where the stone was quarried for building the Old Stone House in Cracroft. I’m assuming the stone was quarried some where close by, perhaps in the Port Hills?
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See Roger’s reply below – sounds likely it came from Halswell.
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Without actually knowing, at a guess I’d say it probably came from the Halswell Quarry. I used to live in the house (now gone) on the quarry farm in the 1980s, and the quarry was still used by the Christchurch City Council for road gravel, but has been inactive now for many years.
https://www.ccc.govt.nz/parks-and-gardens/explore-parks/port-hills/halswell-quarry/halswell-quarry-history/
Roger
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The architecture certainly appeals to me!
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Yes, it’s lovely and quaint. Bet it was cold in winter though 🙂
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Hey- just saw this! – the Indians were housed originally in huts to the left of the building, and it was in this primitive accomodation that my family lived. My Grandmas grandmother was born in one of those huts in 1863 along with 9 other siblings. My ancestors in laws (bassawan, his wife, son gordeen and siblings lived in another hut. They lived next to a Muslim family the wuzerah’s – who were life long friends of my Hindu Sohman’s. There were also single men accomodated nearby- a pity the plaque didn’t reflect the multi diverse religious mix of the community
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