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Walter Spring
Description
TitleWalter Spring
SummarySouthbridge and Leeston hotel proprietor
DescriptionWalter 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 NameWalter
Last NameSpring
OccupationSouthbridge and Leeston hotel proprietor
Date of Birth1838
Place of BirthLondon
Date of Death1911
Place of DeathChristchurch
Age at Death73
Other 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 proprietor
DescriptionWalter 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 NameWalter
Last NameSpring
OccupationSouthbridge and Leeston hotel proprietor
Date of Birth1838
Place of BirthLondon
Date of Death1911
Place of DeathChristchurch
Age at Death73
Other 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 morning
More InformationRead about Walter Spring releasing the lease of Leeston Hotel in 1902
Read a newspaper account of Annie Spring's inquest
Read the Canterbury Police Gazette on the inquest of Annie Spring in May 1875
See Walter, Mary and May's grave at Ellesmere Cemetery
More InformationRead about Walter Spring releasing the lease of Leeston Hotel in 1902
Read a newspaper account of Annie Spring's inquest
Read the Canterbury Police Gazette on the inquest of Annie Spring in May 1875
See Walter, Mary and May's grave at Ellesmere Cemetery
Attribution
Researched BySarah Davy
Written BySarah Davy
Written BySarah Davy
Walter Spring. Selwyn Stories, accessed 07/03/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6649





