Goodbye, Cranmer Courts...

It's a sad day in the Garden City as we reluctantly say farewell to Cranmer Courts, one of the oldest remaining gothic revival buildings in Christchurch. The bulldozers started tearing down the building this morning after a bid to save the earthquake stricken complex finally fell through, with the structure being considered uneconomical to repair by its current owners (and no doubt their insurers)

Constructed between 1873 and 1876, this Category 1 heritage building stands on the north-eastern corner of Cranmer Square. Formerly the Normal School, it was originally developed to form part of an educational precinct (sound familiar?) along with the Teacher Training College (now the Peterborough Centre) and Cathedral Grammar.

When I took these photos there was a small crowd of protesters picketing the cordon around the demolition site. There were a mix of emotions on display- mainly anger, despair, hurt and grief. Holding up placards beckoning passing motorists to toot in support, the sound of car horns echoed around the square.

For me that's the saddest part; there's a ground swell of support for retaining as many of the remaining heritage buildings that are 'fixable', and it's deemed by many that this is one such example. Unfortunately, it would seem there's no-one out there with pockets deep enough - and the vision bold enough - to take on the challenge of its restoration.

Meanwhile, over the sound of the falling facades, the 'powers-that-be' proclaim that the rebuild has finally started. I guess that depends which way you look at it really...

'Tis a sad day indeed.