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Walter Spring
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TitleWalter Spring
SummarySouthbridge and Leeston hotel proprietorDescriptionWalter Spring (1838-1911) was first married to Annie Spring with whom he had three daughters.
Walter had taken on the lease of the Selwyn Bridge Hotel on the Leeston Road in 1867, transferring to the Southbridge Hotel in 1871. Annie died suddenly on 16 May 1875. At the coroner's inquest the following day, held in the Spring's hotel, the jury found she had died from the effects of excessive drinking.
Walter went on to marry Mary Cryer (1841-1904) in 1877, with whom he had four more children (three sons and a daughter), and he was the publican of the Leeston Hotel from 1878 to 1902 (taking over from J. J. Loe). He was known as the funder and builder of the Leeston Cycling Track in 1899, and was also involved in local rugby and horse-racing.
Walter, Mary and May Spring are buried at the Ellesmere Cemetery.
First NameWalterLast NameSpringOccupationSouthbridge and Leeston hotel proprietorDate of Birth1838Place of BirthLondonDate of Death1911Place of DeathChristchurchAge at Death73Other Biographical InformationAnnie and Walter had three daughters:
Blanche Spring (later Donald) (1867 - 1946)
Violet Spring (later Paine) (1869 - 1913)
Gertrude Spring (later Hogg) (b.1872)
Mary and Walter had three sons and a daughter
May (1879-1899)
Charles (1879-1958)
Russell Walter (1880 - 1970)
Henry (1881 - 1944)
SummarySouthbridge and Leeston hotel proprietorDescriptionWalter Spring (1838-1911) was first married to Annie Spring with whom he had three daughters. Walter had taken on the lease of the Selwyn Bridge Hotel on the Leeston Road in 1867, transferring to the Southbridge Hotel in 1871. Annie died suddenly on 16 May 1875. At the coroner's inquest the following day, held in the Spring's hotel, the jury found she had died from the effects of excessive drinking.
Walter went on to marry Mary Cryer (1841-1904) in 1877, with whom he had four more children (three sons and a daughter), and he was the publican of the Leeston Hotel from 1878 to 1902 (taking over from J. J. Loe). He was known as the funder and builder of the Leeston Cycling Track in 1899, and was also involved in local rugby and horse-racing.
Walter, Mary and May Spring are buried at the Ellesmere Cemetery.
First NameWalterLast NameSpringOccupationSouthbridge and Leeston hotel proprietorDate of Birth1838Place of BirthLondonDate of Death1911Place of DeathChristchurchAge at Death73Other Biographical InformationAnnie and Walter had three daughters:Blanche Spring (later Donald) (1867 - 1946)
Violet Spring (later Paine) (1869 - 1913)
Gertrude Spring (later Hogg) (b.1872)
Mary and Walter had three sons and a daughter
May (1879-1899)
Charles (1879-1958)
Russell Walter (1880 - 1970)
Henry (1881 - 1944)
Connections
ImageThe Leeston cycling track: training in the early morningMore InformationRead about Walter Spring releasing the lease of Leeston Hotel in 1902Read a newspaper account of Annie Spring's inquestRead the Canterbury Police Gazette on the inquest of Annie Spring in May 1875See Walter, Mary and May's grave at Ellesmere Cemetery
More InformationRead about Walter Spring releasing the lease of Leeston Hotel in 1902Read a newspaper account of Annie Spring's inquestRead the Canterbury Police Gazette on the inquest of Annie Spring in May 1875See Walter, Mary and May's grave at Ellesmere CemeteryAttribution
Researched BySarah DavyWritten BySarah Davy
Written BySarah DavyWalter Spring. Selwyn Stories, accessed 07/03/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6649
