User talk:Wikiped555

Warwick House, originally known as ‘Sunnyside’ was built in 1854 by ALFRED FELL,  The builder was David Goodall also a well known Nelson resident of the time.

Alfred Fell arrived in Nelson in April 1842 on the 3rd immigrant ship The Lord Auckland, he was the first wealthy immigrant to reach the new colony.

In 1843 he purchased 20 acres on the upper slopes of the city bordered by the Brook Stream to the East, to the ‘Seymour Oak’ and Bronte St. in the North  and back up the Brook Valley and  a significant part of the Northern Grampians. Fells’ great granddaughter recently celebrated her 90th birthday here with us.

Fell married Fanny Seymour, who’s father Henry, he was in business with as ‘Fell & Seymour’. Fells’ oldest son Charles built a large home known as St Johns on the Grampians near today’s site of Melrose House. Charles Fell, was major, MP and founded the law  firm of Fell & Harley which still exists today.

In 1854 only 6 months after completion, the house was nearly burnt to the ground by a large fire that swept across the Grampian mountains. The house was only saved by the release of all nearby prison inmates to help with the water carrying. Fells’ influence in the colony, saw many sentences reduced.

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On returning to England in the 1860s’ Fell then sold the property to Nathaniel Edwards, a leading Nelson businessman and founder of the Anchor shipping line. Edwards undertook 2 major expansions in the 1860s’ Firstly a new wing encompassing 15 rooms and 2 towers was added to the southern side. Then the 3 storey Northwing with the Ballroom and 4 storey tower was added. At that stage the house had approx. 50 rooms. , today it still has over 30.

Edwards died only a few years after completing these additions. His estate in 1880 was valued at the incredible amount of Pdstlg 800.000,- (some $90mio. in todays’ terms)

For many years the house was leased to Sir David Munro, Liberal MP and one of Nelsons leading early politicians. Sir David Munros’ son Charles Munro is also well known as being the ‘father of New Zealand rugby’ – he was the person who first introduced the game in NZ and organized the first match played played at the Botanics ground in Nelson

In the 1890s it was operated as a ‘Gentlemans boarding house’,for several years and then closed up for around 10 years.

All ceilings, walls, weatherboards and most doors are solid Kauri and the Ballroom features an immaculate sprung native Matai dancing floor. The walls are all Lathe & Plaster, which took 2 years to fully cure.The roof is Welsh slate tile and the Cast Iron gates and gateposts were also bought out from England in the 1840s’

On completion in 1880 Warwick House was insured for the vast sum of PDSTG 130.000,- - (about NZ 20mio. today!) certainly one of the highest insured private residences of the time.

In 1910 part ot the Warwick House land was donated to the Nelson City council for the creation of Seymour Avenue – named after Alfred Fells’ wife Fanny

Charles Pharazyn purchased the property in 1915 and decided to remove the South wing consisting of 2 towers & 15 rooms which had been partly damaged whilst being boarded up

In the late 1920s’ it was purchased by the Rout family, who turned the gentleman's smoking rooms and the servants quarters into apartments in about 1942. The original curved internal stairs were removed in 1945 and the ballroom was also turned into an apartment. The false ceilings & walls of the apartments were all removed by the current owners in 2003 Well known local artist Jane Evans lived in the Ballroom flat for several years.

In the late 1940s’ most of the exterior of the house was stucco coed over and the huge 2 level conservatory was mostly removed. Part of this has been restored.

Architecturally, Warwick House is one of the finest and largest examples of early Victorian Gothic Revivalist style remaining in New Zealand. We believe it is oldest substantial family residence in the South Island.

The 2 large ‘ORIEL’ windows facing West are a great example of the incredible workmanship of the times, There are 15 rounds of decorative timbers below the windows, all held together by large hand made nails.

Major features include these 2 large Oriel windows, 5 large Bay windows, the 1000sqft Grand Ballroom with sprung 28mm Matai dancing floor and original Victorian walnut paintwork effects. 4 story octagonal tower with a large peaked lead roof 6 original fireplaces, numerous internal arches and scrolls. Original dadoes, pictures rails, architraves, lead lights and cornices. 3 large original gateposts (very similar in design to those of Antrim house, Wellington 2 original wrought iron gates, large scale fretwork on 3 gables.

The roof consists of 7000 original imported Welsh slate tiles. The Norfolk Pine in the front garden dates from 1850. The large Oak tree on Seymour ave was planted by Alfred Fell in 1842

Finds (so far) during the renovations over the past 2 years have included a hidden wine cellar, 4 grand archways, a set of internal stairs,  the original bell wire system, several antique doors (in an old garage), the original coal gas piping system, and some large and very ornate lead light windows stored at the local provincial museum. Also the blade of an old dueling sword was found in the base of the tower.

Since commencing renovations in early 2003, the new owners Nick and Jenny Ferrier have been inundated with visits by previous owners, their descents and former tenants, who have read or heard about the renovations. each has contributed to the info. on the 150 year history. drawings, paintings maps, titles, photos, letters and even some lead light windows have been brought back to the house.