A number of young Scots arriving in Canterbury in the 1840s and 50s had cause to be grateful to John Deans of Riccarton for advice and assistance. One successful protégé was William Boag, who went on to develop the Burnside Farm. When roads were later created as Riccarton and Burnside land was subdivided, the Deans and Boag families glanced back to their Scottish roots for names: Riccarton recognises towns in Ayrshire, and certain Burnside names originate in eastern Scotland. This course will identify some of the early Scottish history of the Burnside suburb in the vicinity of Memorial Avenue (formerly Burnside Road) and how the modern subdivisions have evolved. We will explore within the boundaries of the extensive Burnside Farm, discovering more of Christchurch history lying amidst and beneath this stylish suburb.
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