By Susan Sandys   September 7 2010

Historic buildings in Ashburton, Methven and Rakaia have taken a battering from Saturday's earthquake, and many businesses were shut as damage was assessed yesterday.

Myers and Co Ltd staff members had a day off work as building inspectors were called in.

Administration representative Fiona Flanagan was relieved the quake did not happen during work hours, as the chimney two stories above her crashed through both the roof and first floor to shatter debris onto her desk.

"It's kind of spooky. If it had of been a different time..." Mrs Flanagan said.

Director Dave Mathieson was staying the weekend in Christchurch and helping family and friends with the post-quake clean-up, so was not fazed by the damage at his office.

"This is minor, Christchurch is a lot worse," he said.

ASB Bank in a historic two-storey building on East Street was shut, while East Street's Paul Wylie cycles and an old façade in the Triangle were cordoned off as cracks were assessed.

Landlord Arthur Williams was checking his 100-year-old retail building on East Street as builders dismantled shattered chimneys.

"I have been in earthquakes before so I knew what to expect," the 85-year-old said. He had survived the deadly Murchison earthquake at the age of four, almost having been crushed by a falling chimney as he rode a trike in his backyard.

Chris Redmond expected the nearby 1874 Redmonds building to hold up well despite superficial damage to bricks. Builders were working on site to reduce the hazard yesterday.

"For an ancient building it held together reasonably well," Mr Redmond said.

Surprisingly very few items at The China Shop and Kitchen Kapers were smashed in the quake.

Chimneys crashed through the roof of Rakaia's St Ita guesthouse and a $40,000 repair bill is expected. Chimneys also tumbled at the historic South Rakaia Hotel.