Margaret Alington

Margaret Hilda Alington ONZM (née Broadhead, 30 September 1920 – 15 October 2012) was a New Zealand librarian, historian and author.

Margaret Alington

ONZM
Born
Margaret Hilda Broadhead

(1920-09-30)30 September 1920
Christchurch, New Zealand
Died15 October 2012(2012-10-15) (aged 92)
Wellington, New Zealand
Alma materCanterbury University College
Known forResearch into the life and work of Rev. Frederick Thatcher
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1955)​
Scientific career
FieldsHistory

Life and career

Alington was born and educated in Christchurch, New Zealand. She graduated from Canterbury University College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1943.[1] She worked as a librarian in the Canterbury and Auckland University College libraries, Leeds University Library, University of Illinois library (Urbana, US), and the Alexander Turnbull Library (part of the National Library of New Zealand).

Much of Alington's research centred on the life and work of the Revd Frederick Thatcher, architect of New Zealand buildings including St Mary's Church (New Plymouth), and Old St Paul's (Wellington). The culmination of this investigation was Alington's book, An Excellent recruit: Frederick Thatcher, architect, priest and private secretary in early New Zealand, published in 2007. Alington gave an annual lecture on the history of Old St Paul's at the School of Architecture at Victoria University of Wellington from 1978 to 2005.[2]

In 1977, Alington was largely responsible for the formation of The Friends of Bolton Street Cemetery,[3] now Bolton Street Memorial Park, which restored the grounds, buildings and the many grave-sites of well known historical people. She also wrote a detailed history of the cemetery called Unquiet Earth.[3] Alington guided visitors around the cemetery for many years and gave many talks on it.[4] She also wrote a history of the church (St Mary's Church), called Goodly Stones and Timbers, in 1988.

In the 1999 New Year Honours, Alington was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to local history.[5][6] She was a contributor to the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.[5]

She was the wife of New Zealand architect Bill Alington. Their former home, now called Alington House, has been classified as Category I by Heritage New Zealand.[7][8] It is "an important New Zealand example of Modern Movement architecture."[8]

She died at her home in Wellington, New Zealand on 15 October 2012.[9]

Books
  • Frederick Thatcher and Old St Paul's (1965)
  • Margaret Hilda Alington; William Hildebrand Alington; Dallas James Moor (1968). Old St. Paul's, Wellington: a pictorial record. Friends of Old St. Paul's Society. Friends of Old St. Paul's Society.
  • Margaret Hilda Alington (1978). Unquiet Earth: A History of the Bolton Street Cemetery. Wellington City Council. ISBN 978-0-477-06250-3.
  • Good Stones and Timbers: A History of St Mary's Church, New Plymouth (1988)
  • High Point: St Mary's Church, Karori, Wellington 1866–1991 (1998)
  • An Excellent Recruit: Frederick Thatcher, Architect, Priest And Private Secretary In Early New Zealand, with architectural assistance from William H. Alington (2007)

References
  1. "NZ university graduates 1870–1961: Bri–By". Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  2. "New Victoria Legacy Club Members 2012". Victoria Benefactors' Circle. Victoria University of Wellington Foundation. 25 July 2012. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  3. Warren Barton, "Cemetery's new lease of life." The Dominion Post, 14 August 1999. Quote: ""Today it has another life," says Margaret Alington, who in the 1970s wrote Unquiet Earth, a complete and detailed history of the cemetery, and who in 1977 was largely responsible for the formation of The Friends of Bolton St Cemetery, now Bolton St Memorial Park."
  4. Diana Dekker. "A Lively Place." The Dominion Post, 14 August 1999.
  5. "Historical work brings reward", The Dominion Post, 31 December 1998, p2. Quote: "MARGARET ALINGTON, a Wellington woman who has dedicated her life to writing the history and preserving parts of the region, has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit."
  6. "New Year honours list 1999". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 1998. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  7. Wood, Peter (8 February 2011). "Letter: Alington House in good hands". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  8. "Alington House". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  9. "Margaret Hilda Alington Obituary". The New Zealand Herald. APN News & Media. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
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