Rediscovering Christchurch - Antonio Hall
May. 20th, 2012 08:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rumpelsnorcack
On Friday I went on a tour of one of the pieces of Christchurch heritage we are in danger of losing - Antonio Hall on Riccarton Road. Unlike much of the city it isn't (or isn't solely) the earthquakes that are robbing us of this building - it is, sadly, neglect. It has been out of use since 1994-ish and while attempt were made in the late 90s/early 2000s to renovate it for motel rooms, the plan was shelved apparently due to lack of money. It has, therefore, been left to its own device since that time and is rather worse for wear. However, there is a keen group of volunteers who look after it and attempt to keep it secure. They are in the process of going through and tidying it up despite its very derelict appearance.
Dredging up the memory of what we were told as we went through, it was built sometime in the early 1900s then sold to be used as a seminary in the 40s. Consequently there is an original building (which was actually being used until the day of February 22nd 2011, when it was badly damaged by the earthquakes), a 1940s extension and a 1960s extension. I'm told that in its heyday it had 200+ rooms for young men to live in while they were doing their training. It has also been used as a boarding house in its later life, often taking in those who had been put out of psychological institutions as they were allowed back into the general community. This means that it has had a reputation of being a mental institution even though it never actually was. That it was used for psychiatric patients was all I ever 'knew' about it before Friday.
The tour starts in the part that had been renovated for motel rooms, then moves around to the other side of the 60s wing. The contrast is quite startling - from dusty but relatively up to date decor to a building that looks like it has been deserted for decades.
Apart from being very broken down the rooms reminded me of the rooms some of my friends lived in when they went to university (I was lucky enough to live in a Hall that had been converted from hospital rooms, so we had much larger rooms than these) and it was really easy to imagine all those young men living and studying in this place.
The 40s wing felt a bit different. It reminded me of so many old school story books I'd read years ago - the building would have been of an appropriate era for that and I was particularly taken with some of the amazing wallpapers, like this one. It's so shiny and touchable. There were some that depicted scenes and covered entire hallway walls - they were much more exciting than modern wallpapers!
I also finally got a visual on on of the things I often read about in those old boarding schools stories: the bed cubicle.
Because it has been used as a seminary, two chapels have been built. One was built in the 40s and once the new one was added in the 60s it was turned into a library. Even in its disused state it is a gorgeous room, still bright and open and you can imagine people at peace in there both as a chapel and when used as a library. Unfortunately by that stage my camera's battery had died so I don't have any photos, but I do have a few of the 60s chapel which was added later. It's a part that has been tidied up, dusted, swept and kept clean. It is, consequently, quite attractive and could easily be used again if only water and power could be got to the building.
There's so much more that could be said about the place, but I think it's something that has to be experienced for yourself. It's sad and beautiful and ugly and grand and mundane. It's fascinating. It's exactly the sort of thing I was intending to do way back when I began doing these Rediscovering Christchurch posts. It is a building I have seen often, it's in a prominent location on Riccarton Road and yet I knew very little about it. It is something we as a city are in danger of losing as it succumbs further to earthquake damaged compounded by neglect. So, if you're at all interested I advise checking out the website, booking yourself a tour and/or joining in one of the working bees that are run occasionally to help clean it up. It is a hidden treasure, dying before our eyes, that we have only a minimal amount of time left to protect and experience. For an hour and a half you get to do something quite unique and visit this place with its fascinating history in company with people who are passionate about looking after it. What's not to want to see?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-20 07:53 pm (UTC)I hope the volunteers who care for the building can find an wealthy individual or corporation who wants to save it. I would hate to see another beautiful historical building destroyed and I don't even live there. :(
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-21 12:50 am (UTC)Apparently there have been offers from people who do want to save it but they haven't offered enough to tempt the owners. Our plan is to win enough in Lotto to buy it ourselves - this is slightly hampered by not actually buying Lotto tickets ...
(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-24 11:02 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2012-05-26 07:45 pm (UTC)The more interest, the more awareness, the more knowledge the better!
the great old house
Date: 2013-07-23 07:43 am (UTC)