Chance to sit in old-fashioned style

Comfort and style...

Six cast-iron seats in 1860s style now ring a public courtyard at the Provincial Council Chambers.

Installation of tthe seats was part of tthe on-going redevelopment of tthe buildings by tthe Christchurch City Council.

The seats, supplied by Maison Rouge are painted deep maroon. The City Council’s senior landscape architect Dennis Preston says the courtyard is almost a secret and magical part of the Chambers that the public seems to know little about.

The seats are in keeping with the style of the period when tthe Council building was erected.

Also new grass and paths have just been installed iin tthe courtyard and a horsetail water pump will be installed there next. There was originally such a pump in the courtyard and it drew artesian well water for fire fighting.

The new and replica pump will be able to draw water but not from the original well.

Access to the courtyard is from the Chambers and from the riverside walk.

New seating surrounds the public courtyard at the Provincial Council Chambers. The Provincial Chambers in former times.