NZHPT Information release
22 September 2011

The back of a door featuring the signatures of workers involved in a new building at Old St Paul’s in Mulgrave Street is paying tribute to a quirky feature of the original church dating from 1866.

When Old St Paul’s was completed 145 years ago the carpenters signed their names on the inside of a pillar that is part of the church interior.  It was rediscovered during restoration work in the 1960s and is rarely opened to ensure its preservation.

The signature tradition has continued, with those involved in constructing the new toilet facility signing their names for posterity - though this time without the secrecy.

"Having those tradesmen that worked on the new building sign their names with a carpenter’s pencil just seemed the right thing to do,” said Old St Paul’s Manager, Silke Bieda.

“Now they have added another layer of history to the Old St Paul’s complex.  You could say they have left their mark in more ways than one.”

The building project at Old St Paul’s also included restoring and conserving the historic picket fence, of which $60,000 was covered by generous funding from The Stout Trust.

The new toilet facilities were designed by conservation architect Chris Cochran and have been built with the support of the Friends of Old St Paul’s.

“While the new facility fits in with the historic church it was important that it still looked contemporary,” said Ms Bieda.

“The exterior walls are board and batten to fit in with the historic Old St Paul’s.  However, the windows for example, are shaped to create a deliberate point of difference.  The new facility was built in 2011 so it needs to reflect that.

“There is great relief all round, pun intended, that the new facility will be available to the public.”

The picket fence is believed to date from the 1920s, with the original totara pickets reused as much as possible.

“All the pine pickets that had been put in as replacements over the years had degenerated so much they had to go.  They have been replaced by new totara pickets which we hope will help make the fence last for another century.”

Old St Paul’s is open every day (except Good Friday and Christmas Day) from 9.30am to 5pm.

For more information:

Silke Bieda
Manager
Old St Paul’s
tel:  04 473 6728 or  021 2671 456
email: sbieda@historic.org.nz

Background notes

The Historic Places Act  1993 (HPA) defines an archaeological site as a place associated with pre-1900 human activity, including shipwrecks, where there may be evidence relating to the history of New Zealand that can be investigated using archaeological methods.

The HPA makes it unlawful for any person to destroy, damage or modify the whole or any part of an archaeological site without prior NZHPT authority. This is the case regardless of whether the land on which the site is located is designated, or the activity is permitted under the District or Regional Plan or a resource or building consent has been granted.  The HPA also provides for substantial penalties for unauthorised destruction, damage or modification.

The type of work requiring an archaeological authority prior to work commencing could include, amongst other things: earthworks for forestry tracks, planting and harvesting; earthworks for residential developments, including building platforms, topsoil stripping and accessways; earthworks for stock races or farm tracks, fencing or landscaping; trenching for telephone, power, and waste disposal; road construction; quarrying and building demolition or removal.

For further information on investigating archaeological sites please contact the NZHPT, or e-mail archaeologist@historic.org.nz