Story: Washing, cleaning and personal hygiene

Washhouse, Wilkinson's Castle, 1930

Between 1928 and 1930 a house designed by Arts and Crafts architect James Chapman-Taylor was built on the hills above Waiiti beach in Taranaki for politician Charles Wilkinson and his family. The site and size of the house led to it being dubbed 'Wilkinson's Castle'. The washhouse was situated within the house and lined with tiles. The house was grand but the washhouse was pretty standard, tiles aside, containing the usual boiler and double tub.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: O.002475/2

by James Walter Chapman-Taylor

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Kerryn Pollock, Washing, cleaning and personal hygiene – Washing clothes, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/40787/washhouse-wilkinsons-castle-1930 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 1 February 2013.

Comments

Peter Bristow
08 February 2014

Having stayed at the "Castle" a number of times, I am aware of the date above the main gate which says 1936 - somewhat later than the date used in this article