# Rugby Football Was First Played in Cranmer Square, a plaque of Christchurch Central

A plaque of the city, standing at Cranmer Square in Christchurch Central, one record on the council’s plaque register for the public estate.

## The words it carries

> Rugby football was first played in Cranmer Square by the Christchurch Football Club in 1863

The surveyor’s transcription, casing, spelling and typos as read off the plaque. The register does not say who the name belonged to; the dedication is the whole of the record.

- The ground: [Cranmer Square](https://www.chch.live/park/1817-cranmer-square), the park it stands on
- The suburb: [Christchurch Central](https://www.chch.live/christchurch-central-city)
- The year the register carries: 2003
- Rides on: stone plinth
- Status: in service

The register’s photograph: https://gis.ccc.govt.nz/Image/ManMade/ParkAsset/20090820/00378/R0054124.jpg

## In the archive

- [Documents naming Rugby Football Was First Played in Cranmer Square](https://www.chch.live/documents?q=Rugby%20Football%20Was%20First%20Played%20in%20Cranmer%20Square)
- [The record’s own search for it](https://www.chch.live/search?q=Rugby%20Football%20Was%20First%20Played%20in%20Cranmer%20Square)
- [Cranmer Square](https://www.chch.live/park/1817-cranmer-square), the ground’s own page
- [Christchurch Central](https://www.chch.live/christchurch-central-city), the suburb it stands in

A name read off an inscription is a lead, not a verified identity, the search is where verification starts.

## The ground under it

- [The February 2011 survey drew liquefaction over this point](https://www.chch.live/liquefaction), mapped ground failure, a footprint, not a finding
- [The liquefaction model grades it “Medium Liquefaction Vulnerability”](https://www.chch.live/vulnerability), the 2019 screening study
- [Inside a listed place’s setting](https://www.chch.live/heritage), Cranmer Square and Setting
- [A plan matter touches it, Heritage Setting](https://www.chch.live/matters), Heritage
- [A plan matter touches it, Heritage Item](https://www.chch.live/matters), Heritage
- [The plan zones this ground Open Space Community Parks](https://www.chch.live/zones), OCP
- [The nearest recorded shake: M3.7](https://www.chch.live/sequence), 26 December 2010 · ~700 m from the pin · 116 logged within 5 km
The whole stack, answered live: https://www.chch.live/before?lat=-43.52867&lon=172.63034&radius=250

## Around it

- [Cranmer Square](https://www.chch.live/park/1817-cranmer-square), the botanic park it’s inside
- [Armagh Reserve](https://www.chch.live/park/1254-armagh-reserve), community park · ~200 m
- [Walk and bike track through Christchurch Central City](https://www.chch.live/track/walk-482-christchurch-central-city), track · under 150 m
- [Mischa Kuball / Solidarity Grid, 2015 / Boston](https://www.chch.live/plaque/310868-hagley-park-north), plaque · ~200 m
- [Mischa Kuball / Solidarity Grid, 2013 / Dáœsseldorf](https://www.chch.live/plaque/310866-hagley-park-north), plaque · ~200 m
- [Mischa Kuball / Solidarity Grid, 2014 / Graz](https://www.chch.live/plaque/310867-hagley-park-north), plaque · ~200 m
- [Mischa Kuball / Solidarity Grid, 2015 / St Moritz](https://www.chch.live/plaque/310869-hagley-park-north), plaque · ~250 m


## The reports nearby
2,340 reports pinned within 250 m of the point, a pin is where a reporter stood, not a claim about the place.
- [Graffiti on a fence, building or structure](https://www.chch.live/report/9083125), [330 Montreal Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand](https://www.chch.live/christchurch-central-city/330-montreal-street)
- [Graffiti on a traffic light pole or cabinet, or wa](https://www.chch.live/report/9082415), 7–15 Gloucester St, Canterbury, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand
- [Graffiti on a bus stop or public toilet](https://www.chch.live/report/9051800), [26 Park Terrace, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand](https://www.chch.live/christchurch-central-city/26-park-terrace)
- [Graffiti on a fence, building or structure](https://www.chch.live/report/9048454), [1 Cranmer Sq, Canterbury, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand](https://www.chch.live/christchurch-central-city/1-cranmer-sq)
- [Graffiti on a fence, building or structure](https://www.chch.live/report/9048445), Canterbury, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand
- [Graffiti on a road, footpath or bridge](https://www.chch.live/report/9048444), [57 Rolleston Ave, Canterbury, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand](https://www.chch.live/christchurch-central-city/57-rolleston-avenue)
- [Graffiti on a fence, building or structure](https://www.chch.live/report/9048437), Armagh St, Canterbury, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand
- [Graffiti on a sign, mural or public art](https://www.chch.live/report/9048415), [6 Cranmer Sq, Canterbury, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand](https://www.chch.live/christchurch-central-city/6-cranmer-sq)
- [Graffiti on a fence, building or structure](https://www.chch.live/report/9048343), [45 Gloucester St, Canterbury, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand](https://www.chch.live/christchurch-central-city/45-gloucester-street)
- [Graffiti on a sign, mural or public art](https://www.chch.live/report/9048319), [322 Montreal St, Canterbury, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand](https://www.chch.live/christchurch-central-city/322-montreal-street)
- [Graffiti on a fence, building or structure](https://www.chch.live/report/9047966), [316 Montreal St, Canterbury, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand](https://www.chch.live/christchurch-central-city/316-montreal-street)
- [Pest / Vermin](https://www.chch.live/report/9046144), [2 Park Tce, Canterbury, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand](https://www.chch.live/christchurch-central-city/2-park-terrace)

## Questions, answered briefly

**What is this?**

A plaque of Christchurch, standing at Cranmer Square in [Christchurch Central](https://www.chch.live/christchurch-central-city), one record on the council’s plaque register for the public estate.

**What does it say?**

The words above, verbatim, the surveyor’s transcription, casing, spelling and typos as they were read off the stone plinth. The register does not say who the name belonged to; the dedication is the whole of the record.

**Is the plaque still standing?**

The register marks it in service, commissioned 2003. The books' word, though, a plaque may have weathered since the survey, and the pin is the record’s position.


---
Christchurch City Council open data, the Furniture service’s Plaque layer. The inscription is the surveyor’s transcription; "In Service" is the books, not a promise the plaque still reads clean. The pin is the record’s position.
The roll: https://www.chch.live/plaques · the record as data: https://www.chch.live/plaques.json · this plaque’s page: https://www.chch.live/plaque/61081-cranmer-square