“Founder of Canterbury, New Zealand, lived and died here.” That’s what the blue plaque at 48 Gloucester Place says about John Robert Godley. Now, what does John Robert Godley have to do with Dudden Hill? Let’s unravel this colonial connection.
John Robert Godley was born in Dublin in 1814. He was an Irish statesman and bureaucrat. Godley is considered the founder of Canterbury, New Zealand. Though he only lived there for two years.
After graduating from college, Godley traveled extensively. His travels shaped his ideas about establishing and governing colonies. In 1843, he became High Sheriff of Leitrim.
Edward Gibbon Wakefield asked Godley to found a colony in New Zealand. This colony would follow the beliefs of the Church of England. Godley’s political connections helped secure funds.
In April 1850, Godley and his family arrived in Lyttelton. He was shown plans for three towns. These included housing plans for Lyttelton. In December 1850, four ships reached Lyttelton. The Randolph, the Cressy, the Sir George Seymour, and the Charlotte Jane carried pilgrims and supplies.
For two years, he led the settlement called Christchurch. He negotiated with the Canterbury Association. Godley wanted them to change pastoral lease conditions. This would ensure a strong farming base. Godley believed Canterbury should be self-governing.
In November 1852, a deputation asked Godley to run. It was for the first election for Superintendent of the Canterbury Province. Fitzgerald was part of that deputation. But Godley declined.
Godley left Canterbury for England in December 1852. At a banquet in Greenwich, he reviewed Canterbury’s progress. In England, Godley wrote about colonial reform for newspapers. He also worked at the War Office. There, he argued for self-governance for British colonies.
Godley died in London on November 17, 1861. A bronze statue of him was erected in Christchurch in 1867. It was designed by Thomas Woolner.
Godley’s only son was Sir Arthur Godley. He later became Baron Kilbracken. His nephew was General Sir Alexander Godley. He commanded the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in WWI.
The house built for Godley in Lyttelton was demolished. It made way for a Plunket Society building. The Plunket building was damaged in the February 2011 earthquake. Upon its demolition in June 2012, post holes of Godley’s house were found. Archaeologists believe his house had at least six rooms. This was substantial for an early colonial building.
So while we stand here at Dudden Hill, remember John Robert Godley. He never stood here but left his mark on the other side of the world. His legacy lives on in Canterbury, New Zealand. The blue plaque reminds us of his vision and impact.