Cricketing Colonists

William Guise Brittan led the first Canterbury Pilgrims, chaired the Society of Canterbury Colonists and controlled the Land Office in early Christchurch. William Guise Brittan was also known as ‘the Father of Cricket’ in Canterbury. His elder brother Joseph had a significant influence on local politics and he, too, was a cricket enthusiast. The Brittan brothers were leading figures in the Canterbury settlement and made substantial contributions to the province, yet they were unpopular, both their careers ended in failure and disappointment and they have been mostly forgotten. This timely and fascinating account seeks to explain why.

Geoffrey Rice is Adjunct Professor of History at the University of Canterbury. His books include Victoria Square: Cradle of Christchurch, Christchurch Crimes and Scandals, All Fall Down: Christchurch’s Lost Chimneys and Christchurch Changing. Frances Ryman taught classical studies for over 20 years and won awards for restoring William Guise Brittan’s sole surviving Christchurch residence, Englefield.