Old Blacksmith and Saddlery......

I was sitting at lights this morning waiting my turn. I have always admired this building, and often wondered its history....SO, i took a picture and have spent age trawling the net and found this.......
William Coles Webb was born in Berkshire, England in 1834. He appears in history in 1865 when he purchased roughly 80 acres on Riccarton Road, (Christchurch, NZ) building himself a hotel and stable – The Bush and W.C. Webb Inn. Well known around Christchurch as a fine horse trainer, his stables becomes a popular place for the “who’s who” of the racing world. The foot traffic of this side business caused the Bush Inn to grow and flourish. Sited literally on the gateway to the Selwyn District, West Coast and a coach stop for Cobb & Co, all sorts of colourful characters would walk over the threshold of W.C. Webb’s establishment for a cold one.
The Bush Inn became the centre of many of Christchurch’s sporting events, either being the starting point or where the race would end. From horses to bicycles, pigeon shooting to hunting parties, the Bush Inn catered to them all.
Across the road from the Bush Inn stands a small two story brick building, adjacent to Waimari Road. When this was first built, it was a blacksmiths and saddlery. A bright spark who was witnessing the success of W.C.’s Bush Inn and stables figured to make a buck or two of their own by providing a service that must have been lacking at the time.
This building still stands - this is it......I think the Bush Inn has been rebuilt since quakes and has changed its name.