Richard Pierce

Abel Smith Street Stable Keeper

The photo was taken in 1870. The reverse is labelled ‘D Pierce outside a dwelling house in Abel smith Street’. In 1867, Richard Pierce married Jane  Orr (born Mann, second marriage) at St Paul’s Church and the couple lived in Abel Smith Street. Could they be the people pictured?

At the time of his marriage, Richard’s occupation was ‘Livery Stable Keeper’ and in the photo, standing next to the house, is a very handsome carriage. A daughter, Elizabeth Rachel was born in 1868 followed by Margery Jane in 1870. 

The house is constructed of timber weatherboards with a shingle roof. Three of the windows are double hung sashes in an early ‘six over six’ Georgian style. This style used smaller panes of glass which were more readily available than larger sheets. One dormer window has been replaced with a cheaper pair of side hung casements. There is no spouting, the rainwater simply falls to the ground and would have ponded around the house. The gate is made of painted white pickets, but the front fence of roughly shaped pales.

Richard opened the Victoria Hotel Livery and Bait Stables in 1868. The Victoria Hotel was near the intersection of Abel Smith and Cuba Streets. Richard hired out saddle horses and vehicles. Wedding parties and balls could be supplied with an omnibus, cab or buggy.

In 1881, the family moved to Blackbridge (Hutt) and Richard went into farming. They lived on the Hutt Road. Jane died in 1899 at Blackbridge. Richard died in January 1900 at his daughter’s house in New Plymouth.

Wrigglesworth and Binns (Firm). D Pierce outside a dwelling house in Abel Smith Street, Wellington - Photograph taken by Wrigglesworth and Binns. Reed, C B (Mrs), fl 1960s? :Photographs of Wellington, George Cheese, and ships. Ref: PA2-2015. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23078981

Detail from above image.