Leggings, spats and watertights: 1902

The name of this firm rang a bell – back in 2008 I took a picture of this ghost sign on Manchester Street. Canterbury Heritage commented:

Boot Maker & Importer George Pannell (1860-1933) arrived at Lyttelton in 1879 aboard the Waitangi. The business moved to Cashel Street, near to the High St corner, where it last appears in the photographic record in 1966 as Pannell Shoes. Pannell’s Manchester Street premises were constructed in 1905, but the building’s claim to fame relates to the Silver Grid Hotel, which occupied most of the upper floor towards the Tuam Street corner. The Hotel burnt in 1917, with a loss of four lives – hence the modified facade.

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We have digitised a rather splendid 1902 publication Tourists’ guide to Canterbury.

I will share some of the interesting ads and pictures from it in a series of posts – there’s lots of information about local businesses and places in 1902.