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Hartismere
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DescriptionJames Edward Williams (1868-1942) - Hartismere
Hartismere was situated at the top end of Chapel Street in Greymouth. It was a stiff climb up the hill
above Greymouth next to Kings Park on four acres of grounds. There were 88 steps leading up to the
front entrance. A trolley and ropeway operated by a pulley system was installed to haul goods up the
hill and was used by local tradesmen too. As well as the colourful rose garden there was a grass tennis
court, a croquet court, and a dairy, fowlhouse, turkey run, vegetable garden and a large orchard
looked after by the chinese gardener. The house was on a level part of the land. Hartismere was fairly
self sufficient with their own produce and milk. There was also a cook-housekeeper and other single
woman as servants. 1 When the property was sold in 1915 it was further decribed as the grounds and
garden being splendidly laid out with a large poultry run sub-divided into several smaller runs, with
fowl houses, also paddock, cow shed and outhouses. The dwelling consisting of fourteen rooms with
every convenience. 2 Entries submitted at the sale included glassware, wardrobe, duchess, chests,
cosy corner, extension table, carpet squares, linoleums, china, pictures, chesterfields, divan chair, oak
dinner waggon, clocks, silver ware/ curios, bedsteads, bedding, mattresses, bagatelle table, garden
rollers, writing desks, incubators, brooders, chicken house, fenders and irons, garden chairs, garden
tools, sewing machine and also an upright grand piano. 3
It was built for Edmund Wickes (1836-1913) by Mr Augustus Stratford Henniker. Edmund was an
ironmonger and importer of general hardware. Edmund’s daughter Daisy later married Augustus at
St. Mary’s Church Timaru in 1902. 4 5 Edmund died at Hartismere in 1913 6 and the property was sold
by Daisy in 1915. 7 Her husband Augustus had died in 1906 in the South of France. 8 Daisy sold the
house so she could go to England to undertake work tending to sick and wounded soldiers who were
fighting during WW1. 9 See documents Edmund Wickes and Augustus Henniker
James Edward Williams (1868-1942), tailor of Greymouth purchased Hartismere in 1915. He lived
there with his mother Jane Williams (1835-1921). The house burnt down before 1921. 10
James was known as Archie and was born at Oamaru the eldest child of Edward Williams (1841-1897),
boatman, fishmonger and Jane Jones (formerly Johnstone). Archie served a tailoring apprenticeship
for three years with Messers Ballantyne & Co of Christchurch and gained valuable experience in
businesses in both Christchurch and Wellington. He established his own tailoring business in
Greymouth on the corner of Mawhera Quay and Albert Street. Later he had a branches in Reefton and
Kumara. He carried the largest stock of goods on the West Coast and the shop utilised good lighting,
dust-proof glass display cases, and over 9000 square feet of shelving. The workroom over the shop
comprised 750 square feet and employed thirteen experienced tailors. Archie imported cloth from
both England and Europe, with the majority coming from Huddersfield in the west of England. The
business rapidly expanded and had customer orders from Auckland to Invercargill. Archie did not
marry and had interests in the Freemasons, Jockey Club and other sporting clubs. He is buried with his
mother at the Greymouth Cemetery. 11
James’s brother Richard (1875-1957) ran the tailor shop in Reefton. Williams verbal family history
states that Richard recounted that he dreamt he saw a man running away when the house was burnt.
His brother George (1878-1964) worked as a tailor in Greymouth, and probably ran the Kumara shop.
Hartismere was situated at the top end of Chapel Street in Greymouth. It was a stiff climb up the hill
above Greymouth next to Kings Park on four acres of grounds. There were 88 steps leading up to the
front entrance. A trolley and ropeway operated by a pulley system was installed to haul goods up the
hill and was used by local tradesmen too. As well as the colourful rose garden there was a grass tennis
court, a croquet court, and a dairy, fowlhouse, turkey run, vegetable garden and a large orchard
looked after by the chinese gardener. The house was on a level part of the land. Hartismere was fairly
self sufficient with their own produce and milk. There was also a cook-housekeeper and other single
woman as servants. 1 When the property was sold in 1915 it was further decribed as the grounds and
garden being splendidly laid out with a large poultry run sub-divided into several smaller runs, with
fowl houses, also paddock, cow shed and outhouses. The dwelling consisting of fourteen rooms with
every convenience. 2 Entries submitted at the sale included glassware, wardrobe, duchess, chests,
cosy corner, extension table, carpet squares, linoleums, china, pictures, chesterfields, divan chair, oak
dinner waggon, clocks, silver ware/ curios, bedsteads, bedding, mattresses, bagatelle table, garden
rollers, writing desks, incubators, brooders, chicken house, fenders and irons, garden chairs, garden
tools, sewing machine and also an upright grand piano. 3
It was built for Edmund Wickes (1836-1913) by Mr Augustus Stratford Henniker. Edmund was an
ironmonger and importer of general hardware. Edmund’s daughter Daisy later married Augustus at
St. Mary’s Church Timaru in 1902. 4 5 Edmund died at Hartismere in 1913 6 and the property was sold
by Daisy in 1915. 7 Her husband Augustus had died in 1906 in the South of France. 8 Daisy sold the
house so she could go to England to undertake work tending to sick and wounded soldiers who were
fighting during WW1. 9 See documents Edmund Wickes and Augustus Henniker
James Edward Williams (1868-1942), tailor of Greymouth purchased Hartismere in 1915. He lived
there with his mother Jane Williams (1835-1921). The house burnt down before 1921. 10
James was known as Archie and was born at Oamaru the eldest child of Edward Williams (1841-1897),
boatman, fishmonger and Jane Jones (formerly Johnstone). Archie served a tailoring apprenticeship
for three years with Messers Ballantyne & Co of Christchurch and gained valuable experience in
businesses in both Christchurch and Wellington. He established his own tailoring business in
Greymouth on the corner of Mawhera Quay and Albert Street. Later he had a branches in Reefton and
Kumara. He carried the largest stock of goods on the West Coast and the shop utilised good lighting,
dust-proof glass display cases, and over 9000 square feet of shelving. The workroom over the shop
comprised 750 square feet and employed thirteen experienced tailors. Archie imported cloth from
both England and Europe, with the majority coming from Huddersfield in the west of England. The
business rapidly expanded and had customer orders from Auckland to Invercargill. Archie did not
marry and had interests in the Freemasons, Jockey Club and other sporting clubs. He is buried with his
mother at the Greymouth Cemetery. 11
James’s brother Richard (1875-1957) ran the tailor shop in Reefton. Williams verbal family history
states that Richard recounted that he dreamt he saw a man running away when the house was burnt.
His brother George (1878-1964) worked as a tailor in Greymouth, and probably ran the Kumara shop.
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Landmark (Place)Hartismere
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West Coast New Zealand History (29th Aug 2022). Hartismere. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 7th Apr 2026 06:04, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/30518