For more than 100 years they've stood as the entry point to one of Cambridge's oldest and well-known park attractions.
There's no doubt the Thomas Wells Memorial Gates are just as beautiful now as they were when constructed in 1911.
Built as a memorial to Thomas Wells 105 years ago, the gates have a resonating connection to the Cambridge Domain where they currently stand.
Thomas Wells was born in 1842, came to New Zealand from England in 1863, and settled in Cambridge in 1878.
He opened a trading post in Duke St for butter made by farmers' wives.
Before he died in 1910, Wells was chairman of the Cambridge Domain Board from 1880 – 1905 and played an important part in forming the domain and Te Ko Utu Park as it is known today.
In 1881 it was a "wasteland" of scrub, gorse, ti-tree, fern, and 20 years of man-made rubbish.
By 1885, pathways were laid, grass was sowed and more than 3000 trees and shrubs were planted.
A lot of Wells' time and effort went into the domain and its surrounding area.
But not only was he chairman of the Cambridge Domain Board, he was also chairman of the Cambridge Town Board in 1882, a member of the Cambridge Borough Council in 1901 – 1903 and 1905 – 1907, and mayor for two terms from 1903 – 1905.
The gates to mark his contribution were erected a year after he died.
An article published in the Cambridge Independent, 1986, described the gates as a "fitting tribute to his artistic taste and forethought".
It said the gates were built by messrs, McNab and Mason with the voluntary work of Auckland architect A. B Herrold.
They were originally commissioned to mark the park entrance, at the bend in Thornton Rd as it turns into Lake St.But now more than 100 years after they were built, they're to be moved south from the top of the lake, framing St Andrew's Church, prompted by the redevelopment of the northern entrance to Cambridge.
Also the site is now home to the Homecoming Cross recently re installed.
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