Mrs Rogers died in 1903 and her widowed daughter Mary Ellen Browne lived in the property until her death in 1930. It was then transmitted to her two married daughters, Mary Eleanor Naylor and Frances Lucy Soper. On Mrs Naylor's death it was transmitted to Mrs Soper (1963) and when Mrs Soper died it was transferred to her niece Marjorie Eleanor Froom Naylor (1964). Marjorie Naylor was an artist well-known for her portraits and landscapes. She operated Gallery 29 from 29 Bridge Street, living and working there until her death in 1985 when the present owners purchased the property from which they have since operated their jewellery business.
List Entry Information
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
5118
Date Entered
13th December 1990
Date of Effect
13th December 1990
City/District Council
Nelson City
Region
Nelson Region
Legal description
Lots 4/5 DP 1737
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
5118
Date Entered
13th December 1990
Date of Effect
13th December 1990
City/District Council
Nelson City
Region
Nelson Region
Legal description
Lots 4/5 DP 1737
Why is this place significant?
Historic Significance
Historical Significance or Value Believed to have been built in 1855, the building which now houses Wills Jewellers has survived as a dual commercial and residential property while the street in which it is located has undergone substantial architectural modification. As such Wills Jewellers is a vivid reminder of an older commercial centre which is now almost completely gone, not only in Nelson but in most other early New Zealand towns. It shares this distinction with the slightly later Shands Emporium, Christchurch. It is the oldest surviving building in the central business district of Nelson and possibly the oldest commercial building still extant in New Zealand. The building also has a remarkable ownership history, having been owned by five women spanning four generations of the one family over 96 years.
Physical Significance
ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY: Wills Jewellers is an important example of the small scale building erected in growing commercial areas of towns such as Nelson in the mid-nineteenth century. Few such buildings survive and this is the oldest surviving building in the central business district of Nelson. While internal walls have been removed at ground floor level, the first floor and exterior retain their original character. TOWNSCAPE/LANDMARK VALUE: While it is not a landmark, this building does make an important contribution to the streetscape. The small scale, pitched roof and timber construction make an obvious and pleasing contrast with the glass and concrete of surrounding commercial buildings.
Why is this place significant?
Historic Significance
Historical Significance or Value Believed to have been built in 1855, the building which now houses Wills Jewellers has survived as a dual commercial and residential property while the street in which it is located has undergone substantial architectural modification. As such Wills Jewellers is a vivid reminder of an older commercial centre which is now almost completely gone, not only in Nelson but in most other early New Zealand towns. It shares this distinction with the slightly later Shands Emporium, Christchurch. It is the oldest surviving building in the central business district of Nelson and possibly the oldest commercial building still extant in New Zealand. The building also has a remarkable ownership history, having been owned by five women spanning four generations of the one family over 96 years.
Physical Significance
ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY: Wills Jewellers is an important example of the small scale building erected in growing commercial areas of towns such as Nelson in the mid-nineteenth century. Few such buildings survive and this is the oldest surviving building in the central business district of Nelson. While internal walls have been removed at ground floor level, the first floor and exterior retain their original character. TOWNSCAPE/LANDMARK VALUE: While it is not a landmark, this building does make an important contribution to the streetscape. The small scale, pitched roof and timber construction make an obvious and pleasing contrast with the glass and concrete of surrounding commercial buildings.
Construction Details
Start Year
1855
Type
Original Construction
Construction Materials
Timber frame clad with weatherboards, rusticated to street facade and shiplap elsewhere. Rear section of lean-to is part concrete or brick, plastered, and part clad with corrugated iron. Corrugated galvanised iron roof cladding. Brick chimney.
Construction Details
Start Year
1855
Type
Original Construction
Construction Materials
Timber frame clad with weatherboards, rusticated to street facade and shiplap elsewhere. Rear section of lean-to is part concrete or brick, plastered, and part clad with corrugated iron. Corrugated galvanised iron roof cladding. Brick chimney.
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: This small two-storeyed building has a pitched roof and a long single storey lean-to built in at least two stages, at the rear. Clad in rusticated weatherboards the street, or south, facade is symmetrical with a central entrance and one large shop-front window on either side. Within the gable end at first floor level is a double-hung sash window with a small hood on wooden brackets. Each sash has four lights. The other three facades are clad with shiplap weatherboards. The extended lean-to is partly plastered and the north end is clad with corrugated iron. A variety of casement windows including the rear gable end window have been used, some with multi-lights. The interior has been much altered at ground floor level, the removal of several walls allowing one larger retail and workshop space. The first floor consists of two small rooms with low sloping ceilings following the roof line. MODIFICATIONS: Dates not known: - Lean-to extended (post 1927) - Internal walls removed at ground floor level - Internal stair replaced. 1985 - Further unspecified shop alterations
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: This small two-storeyed building has a pitched roof and a long single storey lean-to built in at least two stages, at the rear. Clad in rusticated weatherboards the street, or south, facade is symmetrical with a central entrance and one large shop-front window on either side. Within the gable end at first floor level is a double-hung sash window with a small hood on wooden brackets. Each sash has four lights. The other three facades are clad with shiplap weatherboards. The extended lean-to is partly plastered and the north end is clad with corrugated iron. A variety of casement windows including the rear gable end window have been used, some with multi-lights. The interior has been much altered at ground floor level, the removal of several walls allowing one larger retail and workshop space. The first floor consists of two small rooms with low sloping ceilings following the roof line. MODIFICATIONS: Dates not known: - Lean-to extended (post 1927) - Internal walls removed at ground floor level - Internal stair replaced. 1985 - Further unspecified shop alterations
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Information Sources
Alexander Turnbull Library
Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
Wises Post Office Directories
Wises Post Office Directories
Land Information New Zealand (LINZ)
Land Information New Zealand
Nelson Evening Mail
Nelson Evening Mail
Nelson Provincial Museum
Nelson Provincial Museum
Other Information
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Information in square brackets indicate modifications made after the paper was considered by the NZHPT Board. Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions.
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Information Sources
Alexander Turnbull Library
Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
Wises Post Office Directories
Wises Post Office Directories
Land Information New Zealand (LINZ)
Land Information New Zealand
Nelson Evening Mail
Nelson Evening Mail
Nelson Provincial Museum
Nelson Provincial Museum
Other Information
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Information in square brackets indicate modifications made after the paper was considered by the NZHPT Board. Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions.
Current Usages
Uses: Trade
Specific Usage: Shop
Former Usages
General Usage: Trade
Specific Usage: Shop
Current Usages
Uses: Trade
Specific Usage: Shop
Former Usages
General Usage: Trade
Specific Usage: Shop
Location
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