367 Malvern Street, Glenleith, Dunedin

Leithendel

Nestled in over 5 ha of beautiful native bush this charming 1860s heritage home is accessed by a leafy drive up to the house. Originally designed by H F Hardy and built for Henry Skey on the edge of the town belt but moved to this private and secluded site, in three sections, in 1884. Listed with Historic Places Trust no. 4687 and classed Category 1 , Leithendel is built of weatherboard with a new colour steel roof. The foundations are large beams laid horizontally on rock. The front hall is lined with Minton tiles and the original staircase and glass panelled doors are still intact. The ground floor has 4 living areas and upstairs houses 5 bedrooms, a study and a bathroom. This is a fine example of a wooden house developed from the stone gothic houses of Victorian Britain. Known as carpenter gothic and developed in North America, the style was enthusiastically adopted by New Zealand builders, particularly in Nelson for the larger early houses from the 1840s to the 1860s.