Taylor’s Mistake
Taylor’s mistake is a small bay between Sumner and Lyttelton Harbour in Christchurch, New Zealand. Taylor’s Mistake is known for the beach and great holiday batches.\
How did the bay get its name?
The bay got its name from Captain Taylor of the ship, Volga. In 1858 the American Captain, Captain Taylor’s ship had arrived at the bay and beached the ship Volga. He mistook Taylor’s Mistake for either Lyttelton or Sumnar because they were both very close to the bay. But in 1864 another Captain called Captain Taylor made the same navigational mistake. But even though the first Captain Taylor is known for the founding of the Taylor’s mistake, the second Captain had inspired the name to become Taylor’s mistake. The bay got its name, Taylor’s Mistake in 1853.
What can u do at Taylor’s mistake?
One of the things you can do at Taylor’s Mistake is Awaroa/Godley Head Walk. The Pilgrims Way coastal track is a 3 hour walk and is easy. It starts at Taylors Mistake and ends at Lyttelton Harbour. While you are on the track there is some things and views that you will see. There are views of the beach and coastal area. There is also a Historic Godley Head coastal defence battery right at the beginning of the track. As you carry on you come to 2 gun platforms used in World War 2 past some Historic military buildings. Keep walking and you come to the entrance of Lyttelton harbour and see some great views of city and coastline. Also if you like mountain biking there is a track called Anaconda track where you can mountain bike all the way down to Taylors Mistake Beach. You may also see in some places where old cave dwellings used to be built in the hillside.
One of the other things you can do at Taylor’s mistake is go to the beach and learn how to surf. Taylors mistake beach is known for its great waves and surfers. You can go to Taylors mistake beach and swim and have a great time in the sun. While are are at the beach you can also do some walking.
Taylor’s mistake is also known for its baches along the Queen’s chain. The batches are normally located at the back of the beach so you do get a great view of the beach below.
Do u know what a Cave Dweller is?
In the olden days Cave Dwellers were used by European settlers. Recreational fishermen would use the caves to stay in during the night instead of walking back home after a long day of fishing. The settlement was to the south of Taylor’s mistake not far from Boulder Bay. The caves were in the hillsides. The first person to settle in one of those caves was a Christchurch painter, Tom Archbold in 1879. But the most famous Cave Dweller of Taylor’s Mistake is Jess Worgan’s. This dwelling reached back 19m into the hill and 9m wide and 5m high. The contents inside the Hermitage included 3 metre oak table and chairs, a settee, sideboards for crockery, bunks, an Edison cylinder phonograph, a crystal set radio and an upright piano. The dwelling itself was mostly built from souvenir materials from the 1906 Exhibition and the old Fuller Theatre.
Till this day the only remaining Cave Dwelling in the area is Hobson’s Cave (Whare Moki). This cave is in Hobsons Bay has been modified extensively by its many owners and has been unable be damaged by storms.
Did u know about the severed hand of Taylor’s mistake?
On the 16th of November 1865, Elisha Godfrey and his brother were fishing off the rocks when they found a severed hand at Taylor’s mistake. Elisha took it to the local Christchurch police station for further investigating. Mrs Sarah Howard claimed the hand to be her husband’s. A few months before a boy had found her husband’s clothing on a beach. Apparently her husband had gone swimming at a beach and had drowned. Mrs Howard said that she had recognized the ring on the hand. Her husband was a mechanic and was insured for E2,400. In those it was a large sum of money. The police had become suspicious. So on the 21 December, both of the fisherman and Mrs Howard was arrested for conspiracy to defraud the insurance company. They had also tracked down Mr Howard that was in Petone at a picnic with two hands still intact and he was also arrested.
Till this day they know that the hand had belonged to a woman but they still haven’t found who the hand had belonged to.
Bibliography
https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/taylors-mistake/
http://www.peelingbackhistory.co.nz/taylors-mistake/
https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/blogs/post/the-severed-hand-of-taylors-mistake/
https://teara.govt.nz/en/community-contribution/7206/the-howard-mystery