House

80 Simla Crescent, Khandallah, Wellington
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Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015
Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015
Cityview GIS 2013
Cityview GIS 2013 
Map

  • Constructed

    1939

  • Architect(s)

    James Walter Chapman-Taylor

  • Builder(s)

  • This house is one of ten known surviving Chapman Taylor houses in the Onslow area, and although it has had a large addition, it retains much of its original plan form and sense of character, and the hand built Arts and Crafts quality and style that its architect J. W. Chapman Taylor was known for.

    The historical value of this house is associated primarily with its architect – J.W. Chapman Taylor – and it is an important representative example of his work.

    There is technical interest in the remaining original building as an example of off-mainstream design and construction for the time.

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  • close History
    • This two storey Arts and Crafts style cottage was designed by J.W. Chapman Taylor for Khandallah broker Reginald Ffitch. Ffitch purchased the bush-covered section, which he felt was an appropriate location for an English style cottage. His wife, Mrs Francis Ffitch was well known locally for the foundation of the Stocking league in the 1920s – a knitting group that created children’s clothing from cast-off garments.

      He commissioned Chapman Taylor to design two cottages for the site as a speculative development. These are now the cottages at No. 84 and No. 80 Simla Crescent. 80 Simla Crescent is one of ten known surviving Chapman Taylor houses in the Onslow area, and the plan has a typical Chapman Taylor arrangement of cosy spaces. The central part of the plan, which contains the most important spaces, is given prominence by the northern projection of the living room beyond the “lean to” spaces. The “lean to” areas are each about ¼ of the width of the overall plan. The front door faces the street under a small porch and lets on to a small hall, to the right of centre. The hall gives access to the kitchen, living room, dining room, and sunroom, and to the right-hand in the “lean to”, the bathroom. A dog leg stair gives access to the top floor. The living room features a prominent fireplace. At the head of the stairs, a small hall let on to two bedrooms. 

      Ffitch sold 80 Simla Crescent to Robert Dickinson, a departmental manager, in 1940. Dickinson occupied the house until 1951, when he sold the property to Celby Primer. Primer rented the house to salesman William Scrivens for a number of years. Upon Primer’s death in 1954, his widow inherited the property. She continued renting it to Scrivens for a couple of years, later occupying the house herself. The property was sold to Thomas Belshaw, a company director, a company director in 1967. This issued in a period of multiple sales. The present owners acquired the property in 1988. 

      No alterations to the house were recorded until 1983. This year, an office and garage were added to one side of the house. Despite this large addition, the arrangement of the original house does not appear to have been significantly disturbed. 
        

    • Modifications close
      • unknown
      • (original plans not available)
      • 1939
      • 80 Simla Crescent, dwelling (00056:236:B19826)
      • 1983
      • 80 Simla Crescent, additions and alterations (00058:0:C63050)
    • Occupation History close
      • unknown
      • Not assessed
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      This house is one of the ten known surviving Chapman Taylor houses in the Onslow area. The form of the original house can easily be discerned in spite of a large 1983 addition to its west side. The original house is a characteristic Chapman Taylor design. It is a simple gabled rectangular box, two storeys high and finished with roughcast stucco on timber framing, a gabled Marseille tile roof, running north to south, with almost no eave projection and dark stained timber joinery, the sashes divided into small lights. Prominent window hoods create a strong shadow line at the heads of the windows. The roof runs low to the east, to form a sort of “lean to”, and equally to the west, where it now meets the modern addition. The original plan form has been little disturbed by the 1983 changes. The ground floor addition contains a wide single garage, with internal access to the kitchen. At the first floor, it contains a bedroom, office space, and a small bathroom. It appears that a small lift, housed in the kitchen, provides a secondary access between the two levels. In plan, the north wall of the garage (filled at the first floor with a deck); the garage is otherwise set back from the south wall of the house to create parking space.

    • Materials close

      Painted cement stucco

      Timber joinery

      Marseilles tiled roofing

    • Setting close

      No. 80 Simla Crescent is located on the north west corner of the junction of Simla Crescent and Amapur Drive in Central Ngaio. The Corner site is nestled at the bottom of a southern slope amongst mature trees and against a bush background. It is closely flanked by the adjoining houses, both rather larger buildings, which rise above it on either side. The house site sits below the level of the main adjoining roads at the intersection and is mainly visible at close quarters. The house itself has principal elevations to the north and south. The wider setting is the residential area of Ngaio. This has varied topography, including hillsides and flat areas. Housing is generally densely packed, although the hillside setting creates visual space between the houses and put them against a green background.

  • close Cultural Value

    This house is one of ten known surviving Chapman Taylor houses in the Onslow area, and although it has had a large addition, it retains much of its original plan form and sense of character, and the hand built Arts and Crafts quality and style that its architect J. W. Chapman Taylor was known for.

    The historical value of this house is associated primarily with its architect – J.W. Chapman Taylor – and it is an important representative example of his work.

    There is technical interest in the remaining original building as an example of off-mainstream design and construction for the time.

    • Aesthetic Value close

      • Architectural

        Does the item have architectural or artistic value for characteristics that may include its design, style, era, form, scale, materials, colour, texture, patina of age, quality of space, craftsmanship, smells, and sounds?

        This house is one of ten known surviving Chapman Taylor houses in the Onslow area, and although it has had a large addition, it retains much of its original plan form and sense of character, and the hand built Arts and Crafts quality and style that its architect J. W. Chapman Taylor was known for.

      • Group

        Is the item part of a group of buildings, structures, or sites that taken together have coherence because of their age, history, style, scale, materials, or use?

        It has very high group value with the other Chapman Taylor houses in the Onslow area, contributing greatly to the character of the area.

      • Townscape

        Does the item have townscape value for the part it plays in defining a space or street; providing visual interest; its role as a landmark; or the contribution it makes to the character and sense of place of Wellington?

        This house is of townscape value for the visual interest that it contributes to Simla Crescent.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

        Is the item associated with an important person, group, or organisation?

        The historical value of this house is associated primarily with its architect – J.W. Chapman Taylor – and it is an important representative example of his work.

    • Scientific Value close

      • Technological

        Does the item have technological value for its innovative or important construction methods or use of materials?

        There is technical interest in the remaining original building as an example of off-mainstream design and construction for the time.

    • Social Value close

      Not assessed

    • Level of Cultural Heritage Significance close

      • Local Regional National International

        Is the item important for any of the above characteristics at a local, regional, national, or international level?

        This building is of local importance. This house is one of ten known surviving Chapman Taylor houses in the Onslow area, and although it has had a large addition, it retains much of its original plan form and sense of character, and the hand built Arts and Crafts quality and style that its architect J. W. Chapman Taylor was known for.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      21/ 327

    • Legal Description

      Lot 2 DP 32154

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      N/A

    • Archaeological Site

      Risk Unknown

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      Not Earthquake Prone

  • close Additional Information

Last updated: 12/3/2017 10:55:29 PM