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338:
282:
33:
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The arch remained quite secluded so was undisturbed despite the development of
Henderson. After the construction of Central Park Drive in the 1980s the arch and creek was discovered after being largely forgotten. The stream filled in but the effort of locals to preserve the arch, including obtaining
457:
The purpose of the arch is not known but the son of a neighbour of Swan said it was supposed to be part of a swimming pool and fountain, possibly for the purpose of teaching children how to swim. Other theories include it being used to house his yacht, unlikely due to the size of the yacht compared
453:
Swan had built tunnels from bricks that had fallen off the pottery ships in the side of the creek to store his crops and books. But other than the tunnels he had also built an archway. Although the tunnels built by Swan were destroyed by flooding in 1929, the arch survived. The arch is located near
194:
managed to head up the stream in their boat. They came across a yacht, and orchard crops, alongside Swan himself. Despite reports of Swan being a complete recluse and being 'discovered' in 1910 after years of isolation there is evidence this is either untrue or a heavily distorted story. Swan was a
132:, England, to Joseph and Ann Swan (née Robson). Swan's father's profession is not recorded but it is believed he was a wealthy individual, possibly a large shareholder in the "London and Great Eastern Railway Company" (presumably the
246:
One person who had met Swan recalled that Swan had dug up an apple and offered it to him. Swan claimed the apple was 25 years old and he had used a scientific method of preserving it. An apple Swan propagated known as the
297:
479:
a
Heritage New Zealand listing led to the arch being protected with a reserve created around it. Roughly 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) of the arch is now no longer visible from a build up of dirt.
516:
The cellar vault, likely built as a library, has decayed and partially collapsed over the years. It is nearly 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) high and more than 7 metres (23 ft) in length.
243:, England. He was described as a "brilliant barrister" and as an "eccentric Englishman". Rumours spread that his estate was worth £250,000. In actuality his estate was worth less than £35,000.
254:
Swan has been remembered as a kind and charitable man who would give his money to those in need. His obituary described him as a philanthropist who "liberally" gave to charity and the poor.
160:. Swan arrived in New Zealand with his wife sometime after leaving his job. Swan purchased a 28-hectare (69-acre) section in Henderson alongside Henderson Creek in November 1898 for 220
542:
Swan left for New
Zealand between 1891 and 1895. Spencer Lumsden Arnott who joined the firm in 1892 claims to have remembered Swan which suggests a later date as being correct.
231:
Upon his death his £35,000 estate was bequeathed to his wife who still lived in
Devonport. His wife remained in Devonport until her death. Swan and his wife had no children.
97:
1856 – 1931) was an
English lawyer and New Zealand settler. In 1901 or 1902, he left for a supposed solo yacht trip around the world but instead ended up sailing up a tidal
113:
1026:
281:
1051:
148:, known as Arnott, Swan, and Walker, which had been founded by his uncle, from 1880 until at least 1891. Swan married his wife, Edith Mary Widdrington, in
971:
829:
572:
Mason, Robyn (July 2009). "A man of comfortable means and leisure – the novel life of an urban legend: Henry
Charles Swan of Henderson".
551:
Government records mention that in 1921 there was a hut but make no mention of anything else. In 1927, the records only mention a vault.
195:
member of the Plumer Domain Board from 1907 to 1923 and helped create the domain. Swan's wife was known to meet him every Friday at the
475:
Alongside the arch Swan had built a cellar vault that is still extant. The cellar vault was likely constructed between 1921 and 1927.
102:
526:
Swan's yacht was taken from the creek several years after his death and was later restored. In the 1990s, it was still being sailed.
789:
486:
with the northern side being decorated. Most of the southern end of the vault is missing. The entrance to the vault boasts two
1031:
995:
190:
One story about Swan states that no one had heard of Swan since his supposed voyage until 1910, when two boys exploring the
1046:
303:
A man in a boat by Swan's Arch circa 1920. The tributary stream pictured here was redirected to flow through a pipe.
175:, Swan's yacht he purchased in 1900. Most reports state Swan had told people he was going to sail around the world.
213:
during his years on the boat. Local children would come visit him and he taught them about heaven and how to swim.
196:
472:
heritage assessment report described it as a 'gateway to nowhere' and assigned it a category B heritage rating.
1056:
498:
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168:
68:
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133:
260:, a highly regarded botanist, credits Swan with helping foster her interest and learning about botany.
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slightly above. A keystone is featured on the northern side. The arch and wall's bricks are laid in
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to the arch; that it is supposed to be a bridge for crossing the stream; and that it was a type of
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199:. Swan also had his place of residence listed as Henderson on the electoral roll of 1905.
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152:, Canada, at age 25. Before leaving for New Zealand, Swan had established an orchard in
153:
1020:
627:
502:
483:
465:
Swan likely constructed the arch before 1923 but the construction date is unknown.
164:. This section was subdivided in 1915 with Swan retaining 5.3 hectares (13 acres).
141:
106:
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184:
183:
During his time as a recluse Swan had become involved in botany again. Swan was
981:
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An obituary for Swan described the arch as 'a remarkable arch of masonry'. An
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129:
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109:, where he lived inside his yacht for at least 25 years until his death.
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and in either 1901 or 1902 he sailed out onto the harbour aboard the
157:
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moored in
Henderson Creek, shortly after Henry Charles Swan's death.
459:
239:
Swan's death was reported all over the country as well as back in
462:, which were popular in England back when Swan was living there.
966:. Auckland: Penguin Random House New Zealand. pp. 29–31.
574:
West of Eden, Journal of the West
Auckland Historical Society
454:
Central Park Drive in a reserve known as Swan Arch
Reserve.
224:
property, being cared for by neighbours. He was cremated at
202:
Swan was known to some locals as the 'Henderson hermit'.
931:
Rodney and
Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette
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891:"Auckland Recluse's Estate Valued at Under 35,000"
144:. Swan worked at one of the oldest legal firms in
746:
744:
742:
740:
693:McKenzie, Joan; Reynolds, David (27 March 1991).
220:on 12 November 1931. He died on 7 November at an
187:for the purpose of dealing with orchard pests.
752:"Eccentric Englishman – The Henderson Hermit"
8:
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65:7 November 1931 (aged 74–75)
419:Heritage New Zealand – Category 2
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432:
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112:He built Swan's Arch, which became a
7:
1027:Buildings and structures in Auckland
697:. New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
84:lawyer, early settler of New Zealand
951:. No. 21028. 12 November 1931.
879:. No. 18484. 12 November 1931.
861:. No. 20392. 12 November 1931.
733:. No. 18496. 27 November 1931.
597:. No. 11486. 13 November 1931.
1052:Alumni of the University of Oxford
788:Gray, Murray (12 September 2002).
758:. No. 20949. 13 November 1931
103:Te Wai-o-Pareira / Henderson Creek
14:
915:. No. 129. 27 November 1931.
715:. No. 281. 27 November 1931.
251:was well known in West Auckland.
790:"Swansong for a lost Aucklander"
336:
308:
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16:English recluse (c. 1856 – 1931)
377:
216:Swan's death was announced via
270:, is inspired by Swan's life.
1:
366:Central Park Drive, Henderson
125:
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382:Likely between 1921 and 1927
136:). He graduated in law from
482:The arch itself is an open
167:Swan and his wife lived in
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395:Brick and mortar, concrete
447:
443:
335:
197:Henderson railway station
156:following an interest in
30:
927:"A Romance of Henderson"
140:and was admitted to the
962:McCloy, Nicola (2021).
400:Design and construction
727:"Recluse of Henderson"
695:Swan's Arch and Cellar
1032:People from Gateshead
909:"Estate of a Recluse"
134:Great Eastern Railway
792:. New Zealand Herald
632:Heritage New Zealand
371:Construction started
323:
1047:New Zealand hermits
996:"Swan Arch Reserve"
945:"A Wealthy Recluse"
873:"Death of a Hermit"
709:"Henderson Recluse"
353:Architectural style
348:General information
258:Lucy Cranwell-Smith
146:Newcastle upon Tyne
105:, on New Zealand's
949:New Zealand Herald
933:. 2 December 1931.
835:. Auckland Council
434:Reference no.
408:Henry Charles Swan
374:Likely before 1923
268:Dove on the Waters
226:Waikumete Cemetery
116:listed structure.
91:Henry Charles Swan
44:Henry Charles Swan
25:Henry Charles Swan
973:978-0-14-377555-3
451:
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387:Technical details
192:Waitemata Harbour
179:Life as a recluse
138:Oxford University
88:
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1000:Auckland Council
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964:Who Lived There?
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897:. No. 6717.
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429:12 December 1991
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73:Waitemata County
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591:"N.Z. "HERMIT""
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877:Waikato Times
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830:"Swan's Arch"
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628:"Swan's Arch"
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205:Swan studied
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81:Occupation(s)
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75:, New Zealand
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29:
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1037:1850s births
1003:. Retrieved
999:
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948:
939:
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913:Evening Post
912:
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837:. Retrieved
794:. Retrieved
760:. Retrieved
756:Evening Star
755:
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712:
703:
694:
635:. Retrieved
631:
594:
573:
567:
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520:
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503:Flemish bond
493:that have a
484:barrel vault
481:
477:
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405:Architect(s)
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267:
266:'s novella,
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142:Inner Temple
123:
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107:North Island
90:
89:
18:
1042:1931 deaths
828:Key, Jean.
511:header bond
342:Swan's Arch
331:Swan's Arch
324:Swan's Arch
249:Golden Swan
185:propagating
1021:Categories
982:1268277041
855:"Obituary"
559:References
426:Designated
120:Early life
114:Category 2
505:with the
491:pilasters
379:Completed
357:Victorian
211:astronomy
169:Devonport
130:Gateshead
99:tributary
69:Henderson
56:, England
54:Gateshead
1005:3 August
839:4 August
796:3 August
762:3 August
637:3 August
499:capitals
392:Material
241:Tyneside
218:telegram
207:theology
128:1856 in
495:parapet
363:Address
274:Gallery
150:Ontario
980:
970:
521:Awatea
507:soffit
488:Tuscan
317:Awatea
289:Awatea
235:Legacy
173:Awatea
162:pounds
158:botany
859:Press
833:(PDF)
530:Notes
497:with
460:folly
1007:2024
978:OCLC
968:ISBN
841:2024
798:2024
764:2024
639:2024
576:(3).
438:5429
315:The
287:The
209:and
62:Died
50:1856
40:Born
101:of
1023::
998:.
976:.
947:.
929:.
911:.
893:.
875:.
857:.
806:^
772:^
754:.
739:^
729:.
711:.
647:^
630:.
603:^
593:.
582:^
513:.
228:.
126:c.
95:c.
71:,
48:c.
1009:.
984:.
843:.
800:.
766:.
641:.
93:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
