Randell Cottage

Sarah was born in Radipole, Dorset in 1830. Her parents were Lawrence Gillard, an agricultural labourer, and his wife Ann (born Hook). Before her marriage, Sarah worked as a domestic servant.

Sarah married William Randell on 5th July 1854 in Weymouth, and they emigrated shortly afterwards. The couple arrived in Wellington in February 1855, just two weeks after a large earthquake had shaken the region and caused widespread damage (estimated to have had a moment magnitude of 8.2).

William’s skill as a bricklayer was in demand as a result of the earthquake and the numerous chimneys that needed to be rebuilt. William and Sarah lived in Ghuznee Street where their daughter was born in July 1855. She would be the first of ten children. Later in the 1860s, William purchased some land in St Mary Street which he had levelled and built a four-roomed cottage on. In about 1874, William added to the house to create an additional two bedrooms.

William died of a goitre in 1880 when their youngest child was only three years old. William himself was only fifty-five. By then, Sarah’s elder sons were reaching their twenties and so presumably were able to sustain the family.

In the 1880s, Sarah had an outer door added to the house. This was to allow her daughter Harriet’s singing pupils to enter without disturbing the family. Harriet was a talented vocalist but was only permitted to sing at religious meetings by her father. After his death she was able to pursue a professional singing career.

Sarah lived in the cottage for forty years before moving to Karori to live with her son. She died in 1921, aged 91, and was buried at Sydney Street Cemetery with her husband. She left thirty-two grandchildren.

In 1994, the cottage was purchased by Beverley Randell, a descendant of William and Sarah’s. Beverley and her husband set about restoring it. In doing so, they found many interesting items which are now held at Te Papa. The house is now used as a writer’s cottage.

References:

https://www.randellcottage.co.nz/cottage/history/

https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/2009928?page=1&rtp=1&ros=1&asr=1&assoc=all&mb=c

https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/2010171?page=1&rtp=1&ros=1&asr=1&assoc=all&mb=c