An historic house has been destroyed in Lyttelton this afternoon.

Fire and Emergency crews were called to Bridle Path Road to find the house completely engulfed by flames.

No one was injured in the blaze.

The dwelling is known as Devonia and has historical and social significance for its association with Captain Robert Hatchwell and the Hatchwell family, who owned the property for a century from 1889.

Captain Hatchwell (1857-1932) worked for the New Zealand Shipping Company for 37 years, proprietor of the Devonia Navigation School and a prominent member of St John’s Presbyterian Church in Lyttelton.

In the Christchurch City Council District Plan it said “Devonia has cultural significance as a social and educational hub in Lyttelton and for its ability to demonstrate the way of life of a family much involved with the local community and maritime culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.”

The house had 4 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.

Devonia had architectural significance as a Victorian one and a half storey villa with a high level of integrity.

Research suggests when Devonia was originally constructed in 1887 it was a small, square, single-storey bay villa with an eastern facing faceted bay window.

Following its acquisition by the Hatchwells in 1889 a second storey, more elaborate bay windows and a bullnose veranda were added, altering the appearance of the building.

No significant alterations have occurred in recent years and the house was “ in a state of disrepair” the council report said.

Christchurch City Council Head of Regulatory Compliance Tracey Weston told Chris Lynch Media “according to our records, the Compliance Team responded to an overgrown section complaint in 2017 which was determined as a fire hazard.

A notice was issued to remove the fire hazard, by cutting the long grass and removing the overgrowth and scrub on the property.”

Fire and Emergency crews were still at the scene of the fire at 4pm.