Old Sydney Burial Ground 1974
Emergency excavation in the City of Sydney
Studies in Historical Archaeology No.S Old ~neyBurialGround 1974 This is number 5 in the series Studies in Historical ArChaeology published by the Australian Soclety for Historical Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006.
Genera 1 Editors: JUdy Birmingham, M.II., Senior Lecturer in Archaeology, University of Sydney. R. Ian Jack, M.A. PhD., F.R.Hist.S., Associate Professor of History, University of Sydney.
Previous Titles in this series : The Wreck of the Elizabeth Lithgow Pottery: Three early catalogues from New South Wales
Further Titles in this series include Ross Bridge, Tasmania Australia may be an Extensive Wine-Growing Country (facsimile edition) James King's Pottery at Irrawang, N.S.W. The Tasmanian Aboriginal Settlement at l~ybalenna, Flinders Island Early Printed Ceramics in Australia History of the Lithgow Pottery Elizabeth Farm House, Parramatta Old Sydney Burial Ground 1974
~ Judy Birmingham and Carol Liston
Studies in Historical Archaeology No. 5 Sydney, 1976 ~ Judy Birmingham and Carol Liston and the Australian Society for Historical Archaeology National Library of Australia card number and ISBN 0 909797 05 6
Five hundred copies printed of which this is number v Ackno..vledgements The University of Sydney team 1S grateful to a number of people who made the study of the Old Sydney Burial Ground vaults possible. First to the Most Reverend sir Marcus Loane, ArchbishOp of Sydney; and to the members of the Glebe Administration ~oard for their interest in the work and their forbearance with inevitable delays in a costly building project. Then to the Very Reverend Lance Shilton, Dean of Sydney, and to the Reverend Canon A. J. Glennon for offering us the hospitality of the Cathedral at considerable inconvenience. To the Project Architect, Noel Bell, of Noel ~el I - Ridley Smith for his endeavours to find a way, finally abandoned with regret, of incorporating Vault I within the Plaza complex; and to ~lessrs. J. A. Bradshaw, Excavati on Contractors, for continuing cooperation on the site. Messrs. Fox and Associates, Architects, drew the measured plan and sections here reproduced by their permission; the Mitchell and Dixson Libraries and Uixson Galleries for permission to use the photographs reproduced as Figure 1 and Plates and 2. Miss Joyce Lanyon, Research Officer of the Forestry Commission of New South Wales 1dentified the timbers of roof beams and coffin; and Robert Irving, Architect, Un1versity of New South wales undertook the time-consuming task of removing Vault 1 piecemeal to Old Sydney Town for planned re-erection. The Sydney University excavation team consisted largely of students of Historical Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, with considerable assistance from Dr. Don Plowman, Department of Soil Science, and his colleague John Corbett. excavation notes and drawings were con tributed by Maureen Byrne, Jenny Van Proctor and others. Historical research was undertaken by Carol Liston; the reconstructions of the Vault 1 memorial and the coffin drawn by Geoffrey Neil; and photographic work was done by the Department of Illustration, University of Sydney. To all these and the many more who cared about this site I would extend also my own personal gratitude.
Judy Birmingham, Director. Contents
Page
Acknowledgements v List of Illustratlons vi; Discovery of Early Vaults in the City History of the Old Sydney Burial Ground 2
Later Discoveries in the Old Burial Ground 11 The Emergency Excavation, April 1974 12 Vault 1 14
Vault 3 16 Vault 5 17 The Finds 18
The Glass 18 The Pottery 20 Iron Coffi n Fittings 22 Other Finds 22 Identification of the Vaults 23 Appendix A - Description of Soil Profile from St. Andrew's Cathedral.
(D. J. Plowman) 24 Appendix B - Catalogue of Finds 28
Bibliography 38 vii
List of Illustrations
PLATES P1. 1. A view of St. Andrew's Cathedral in 1858. Pl. 2. View of George Street, looking north. P1. 3. View of Vault 1. P1. 4. Vault 1. View of interior as found. P1. 5. Vault 1. Cedar coffin with lid removed. Pl. 6. Vault 1. Interior after removal of coffin. Pl. 7. Vaults 4 and 5. Pl. 8. Vault 5. P1. 9. Vault 5. P1. 10. South baulk (west). P1. 11. Vault 3. Pl. 12. South baulk. LINE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1. Map of the town of Sydney, 1836. Fig. 2. Plan showing St. Andrew's Cathedral, Town Hall, Deanery, Schoolhouse and Old Burial Ground. Fig. 3. Vault 1. Section of East end. Fig. 4. Vault 1. Plan of top. Fig. 5. Vault 1. Plan of interior. Fig. 6. Vault 1. East end Elevation. Fig. 7. Vault 1. Plan and Elevation. Fig. 8. Vault 1. Plan and Elevation. Fig. 9. Vault 1. Cedar coffin ~econstruction). Fig. 10. Vaults 4, ~ and 3. Plan. Fig. 11. Vaults 4, 5 and 3. Section. Fig. 12. Vault 5. Plan of Eastern part. Fig. 13. Vault 5. Plan of \~estern part. Fig. 14. Vault 5. Section through collapsed vault. Fig. 15. Vault 5. Roofing beams. Fig. 16. Vaults 3 and 5. Glass bottles. Fig. 17. South baulk (West section). Fig. 18. Vault 3. South face. Fig. 19. Vault 3. Wine glass base. Fig. 20. Vault 3. Table memorial (reconstruction). Fig. 21. South baulk (East) section. NB The plans, sections and details of the vaults, especially Vaults 3, 4 and 5, were made in the field in conditions which made accuracy extremely difficult. Those where no scale is indicated were sketched only. Time, which antiquates antiquities, and hath an art to make dust of all things, hath yet spared these minor monuments.
Sir Thomas Rrowne, Urn Burial Old~BuriaI Ground 1974
DISCOV~RY OF EARLY VAULTS IN THE CITY
With the uncovering late in March 1974 of an early brick vault, a structure which must be the oldest example of Australian colonial architecture in the city of Sydney, attention was focussed briefly once more on the earliest official burial ground in Sydney.
On Saturday r~arch 30, a bulldozer working about eight feet below the present ground surface of the St. Andrew's Cathedral precinct dislodged the north-west corner of an underground brick chamber. About half the vaulted brick roof fell into the cavity, partly covering a collapsed wooden coffin. On Tuesday, April 2, a team of students from Sydney University prepared to in vestigate and record the vault prior to imminent destruction by the contractors. Due to public interest aroused by the find the vault was given a reprieve and our work continued for a period of four days during which time we recorded the remains of three other vaults and part of the early enclosure wall.
The vault was covered to prevent wind and heat erosion, but in May was removed brick by brick by RoDert Irving for proposed re construction as part of the Old Sydney Town Proj ect. 2
HISTORY OF THE OLO SYDNEY BURIAL GROUND
The Old Burial or Burying Ground, sub sequently also called the George Street, Cathedral Close or Town Hall Cemetery was not the first area set aside for the disposal of the European dead in the new colony. The earliest ones \from 1788-1793) were much closer to Sydney Cove, one near St. Phillip's Church with another at Dawes Point; other sites were probably used on an ad hoc basis. \1) The land ad joining the Military Barracks \Clarence, Erskine and Margaret Streets) was also used until late 1792, when new officers' quarters were planned. "Their situation being directly in the neighbourhood of the ground appropriated to the burial of the dead, it became necessary to choose another spot for the latter pur pose and the Governor in company with the Reverend Mr. Johnson set apart the ground formerly cultivated by the late Captain Shea of the Marines." (2) Captain Shea had died of consumption in 1789 and at his request had been buried on his own land. Its convenient situation together with the fact that it had thus already been used for burial doubtless aided its selection. This was to be the Old Burial Ground which was to serve as Sydney's official cemetery from 1793 until January 27, 1820, when it too was closed, and superseded by the New Burial Ground at the Brickfield, subsequently known as the Sandhills Cemetery or Old Devonshire Street Ground. The Old Burial Ground was an area of about two acres, sit uated in what is now the northern part of the block bounded by George, Bathurst, Kent and Druitt Streets. At that time it lay just outside the settlement of Sydney which for many years did not extend beyond Market Street.
\1) Johnson, K.A., "Sydney's Earliest tlurial Grounds, Pt. 1, 1788-1792", Descent, iv, 3, 1969. pp.1D4-6. \2) Ibid., p.106. 3
Uuring its twenty six years of use it was estimated that some two thousand bodies were interred in the Old Burial Ground. (3) Figures derived from the St. Phillip's Register in general support this. (4) Reliable figures for 1792 to 1800 give 478 deaths, and for 1809 to 1820 1,159 deaths. The nine year gap is caused by badly kept records after the departure of the Reverend R. Johnson. There was no regular clergy for St. Phillip's Parish until the arrival of the Reverend W. Cowper in 1809. Most of the early burials were those of convicts. The dead of the various regiments on duty in Sydney were also buried there, as were their womenfolk and families. The New South Wales Corps had an area near the corner of Druitt and George Streets. On the Kent Street side were the tombstones of N.C.O.s of 46th and 48th Regiments, and in the south-west corner, near the old Presbyterian Church, were those of the 73rd Regiment. (5) The wealthier propertied people of Sydney often had vaults and graveyards at their homesteads, such as the Johnstons of Annandale, but several of the early merchants, such as Thomas Reiby and Edward Wills were buried at the Old Burial Ground, George Street. (6) Some of the tombstones had descriptive inscriptiOns, and Dr. Joseph Arnold, visiting Sydney in 1815, spent a leisurely afternoon wandering in the graveyard, noting some of these"remarkable
(3) Evidence of Rev. W. Cowper, N.S.W. Legislative Council Votes and Proceedings, 1845. Report from the Select Committee on the General Cemetery Bill, with minutes of evidence. Printed October L2, 1845. pp. 811-29. (4) Births, marriages and burials are recorded in the Parish Register of St. Phillip's Church, Sydney. Mitchell Library D 362-5. This was the only par ish in Sydney for the years 1792-1820. An alpha betical list of all births, marriages and deaths has been compiled from this register and other Sydney and Parramatta registers - the Mutch index - which can be used to trace specific persons. (5) Forde, J. M. "George Street Cemetery". Newscuttings Vol. 19 p. 5. Mitchell Library Q 991/N. (6) Johnson, K. A., Op.cit. p. 106; Johnson, K.A. and Sainty, M. R. Gravestone Inscriptions N.S.W. Genealogical Publications of Australia. 1973. Vol. 1 "Sydney Burial Ground, Elizabeth and Devonshire Streets". p.vi. 4 epitaphs". (7) It would appear in fact that the Uld Burial Ground in George Street was never consecrated. (8) From l793 to 1820, all burials, regardless of denomin ation, were performed by Church of England clergy in the Old Burial Ground. From its inception, however, the Old Burial Ground must have been a constant source of trouble to the Sydney authorities and indeed populace. One reason was its location on clay and shale. Dr. Arnold continues as follows:
"Some of the stones are ~Iell cut and there are many respectable looking altar tombs. The churchyard is without the town and I think in a bad situation; the ground is of a hardish clay, in some places white and fit for making pipes - in wet weather the place is very offensive from the stench arising from the bodies, some of which apparently are not far underground." (9) Indeed, it was due to the offensiveness of the Old Burial Ground that its use was discontinued in January 1820 according to a Government and General Order. Offensive odours continued after its closure and were attributed to the activities of grave robbers in search of lead from the coffins. (10) Another reason was the difficulty of erecting and maintaining an adequate fence around the cemetery against animal and human predators alike, not to mention the weather. In February 1804 at the sexton's prompting, a fence was built around the area by private subscriptions to prevent pigs and other stock from grazing
(7) Arnold, J. "Journal 1810-15", Mitchell Library C 720 p. 375. (8) Evidence of Rev. W. Cowper, N.S.W. Legislative Council Votes and Proceedings 1845 "General Cemetery" p. 811-29. (9) Arnold, J. Op.cit. p. 381. (10) Evidence of Rev. W. Cowper, N.S.W. Legislative Council Votes and Proceedings 1845 "Genera I Cemetery"p.811-29. 5
in the burial ground and rooting up the earth. (11) However, by November 1804, the wooden palings had been stolen for firewood. (12) The local residents then decided to guard what remained of the tence, (13) but it was a losing battle. By 1808, the fence had been completely destroyed and subscriptions were again called for to provide a good ditch and strong fence at a cost of /50. (14) Contributions were received from the lead ing military officers and interested citizens, for there was a general repugnance at the idea of pigs in the cemetery. t127.14.7 was raised, sufficient for a stone wall of 168 perches and a gate, but not enough to complete the wall with ditches. Further subscriptions were request ed, and the amount needed was raised. (15) Finally, a new wall was put around the Old Burial Ground, totally enclosing it and no further access was allowed. Those in the habit of grazing their pigs, cows and horses in the graveyard, "to the great oHence of decency", woul din future be prosecuted. (16) Even so, fencing the burial ground did little to protect the graves and tombs. In November 1809, Thomas Rose was robbed of property worth .£60 to i80. The thieves, his neighbours, were caught, and the goods were discovered, hidden in a tomb in the burial ground. (17) The major problem was that insufficient thought had gone into the planning of the Old Burial Ground: there was little order in the method of burial (as was subsequently to be only too clear when attempts were made to identify burials) and no-one was formally in charge of the care and maintenance of the burial ground. That this was recognised is apparent from the regulations for the new Bricktield (Sandhills) cemetery. No graves or vaults were to be made without the Principal
(11 ) Sydney Gazette. February 5, 1804. (12 ) Ibid., November 25, 1804. (13 ) Ibid., January 13,1805. (14 ) Ibid., September 25, 1808. (15) Ibid., October g, 1808; June 4, June 18, September ~809. (16 ) Ibid., January 22, January 29, 1820. ( 17) Ibid., November 19, 1809. 6
Chaplain's knowledge: they were all to be the same length, placed in lines, and a register was to be kept. (18) This New Burial Ground, further from the growing town, was selected in 1819 Where Sydney's Central Railway Station now stands. The first burial there was that of Hugh McDonald, a Government official on September 1 I, 1819, before the land was consecrated (January 27, 1820) as a graveyard. \19) From the period of its disuse, the Old Burial Ground suffered a further deterioration: those who were interested were allowed to remove the remains of relatives and friends to the new cemetery, but it would appear that only a few families took ad vantage of this offer. (20) Joseph Underwood, for example, removed the remains of his wife Charlotte (died 1818) and some of his children to the Sandhi11s Cemetery during the early 1820s. Thomas Underwood, his eldest son, was buried in the re-erected vault in 1867, almost fifty years after it was first used. In 1876 it was again reopened, this time to bury Emma Elizabeth Underwood. (21) This was by no means un common. In practically every case where graves were removed from the Old Burial Ground to the Sandhil1s Cemetery they were reopened for subsequent burials at the new burial ground. The remains of Deputy Judge Advocate E11is Bent, who died in 1815, were removed by his friend Chief Engineer John Ovens to Cockatoo Island in 1825, and later to St. Thomas' North Sydney, where many early civil officials were buried. (22) During the 1820s there were reports of clandestine burials continuing to take place in the Old Burial Ground.
(18) Ibid., January 22, January 29,1820. \19) Ibid., September 11, 1819. (20) Johnson, K.A., "Sydney's Early Burial Grounds. Pt.2 - The old l3urying Ground, George Street, 1792-1869", Descent, v, i, 1970. p. 31 gives a list of relocated graves. He notes that in most cases, the tombs were used for later family burials. (21) Ibid. \22) ~ra1ian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 1. 1788-1850 A-H. Melbourne University Press, 1966. 7
Meanwhile, an 010 drover had lived in a cottage on the land adJoining the Old Burial Ground to the south. Hhen he died intestate, his property reverted to the Crown, and Governor Macquarie event ually granted it to the Church of ~ngland. (Z3) On September 1, 1819 Macquarie laid the foundation stone for the Cathedral of St. Andrew to be built on the site. The Cathedral was not built immediately, but in 1830 interest revived and a resolution was passed at a meeting of interested inhabitants: "As the period for which it was deemed proper to reserve the old burial ground is now on the point of expiry, the proceeds arising from the sale thereof will greatly contribute towards the erection of the church." (24) This was based on the misapprehension that the Old Burial Ground had been church land. It had never been granted and was government land, listed as such by Governor Darling in 1829. (25) In1837 plans were made for the widening of George Street and the foundation stone of the Cathedral, originally in the middle of present day George Street, was moved west ward and relaid in its present situation by Governor Bourke in May 1837. (26) In 1840 the congregation of St. Andrew's was using a room in the Albion Mill of Hughes and Hosking, Market Street, for their services. However, a severe fire destroyed this building and permission was given by the Government for a temporary wooden pro Cathedral to be built adjoining the Cathedral,then under construction,in the grounds of the Old Burial Ground, on the George Street frontage. The wooden Cathedral was opened in 1842 and used until St. Andrew's was completed
(23) Barry, J. A., The Ci ty of Sydney - Story of its Growth Old and New Sydney, 1902. p. 13. (24) Nichols, G. R. Church of England in Australia. Historical Notes 1913 p.36. (25) Johnstone, pt. 2. Descent, v, i, p.39. (26) Nichols, pp.cit. p.38. 8 in 1868. (27) In 1842-3, a proposal had been made that the City Council acquire the Old Burial Ground as the site for the proposed Town Hall. The issue was raised in the Legislative Council in 1845 during discussions on the General Cemetery Ilill. A Select Committee of the Legislative Council reported strongly against the proposal. "The feelings and prejudices of many persons are strongly opposed to any such measure". It was not a project of sufficient public importance to warrant disturbing the resting place of the dead, especially when there was so much vacant land in Sydney. It reported that the Old Burial Ground should be left as open space in the centre of the city, enclosed witn a light iron railing and in a few years laid out as an ornamental park. It was believed that if the stone wall remained, further clandestine burials would take place behind it. (28) The dispute over the Old Burial Ground continued through the 1840s and 50s. The Presbyterians, who had built a church behind the cathedral site in the 1830s wanted it opened to al low access to George and Druitt Streets. This was not allowed. (29) The re rommendations of the Select Committee for a railing fence also came to naught, the Government deciding that tne cost, 1..750, was too expensive. Instead, the stone walls were repaired for [228.4.0. (30) In spite of the wooden cathedral in one corner, the Old Burial Ground continued to be
(27) Houison, Rev. A. Notes on St. Andrew's Parish; Watson, J. H. "St. Andrew's Cathedral", Sydney Diocesan Ma azine, February, May, 1820. (28) Report from t e elect Committee on the General Cemetery Bill. N.S.H. Legislative Counci I, Votes and Proceedings 1845. (29) Rev. Dr. J. McGarvie to Colonial Secretary, May 12, 1846. N.S.W. Legislative Assembly, Votes and Proceedings 1863-64. Vol. 5. "Return to an Order - Burial Gro~nds, Sydney and Proposed General Cemetery." Printed July 3, 1863. No.3, pp.7 - 8. (30) Colonial Architect to Colonial Secretary, June 26, 1847. N.S.W. Legislative Assembly, votes and Proceed ings 1863. "Burial Grounds, sydney" No.15. p.ll. 9 neglected and subject to "profane encroachments". The Bishop of Sydney in 1849 made an attempt to tidy the grounds, collecting dilapidated tombstones and planting trees. Old tombstones were used to make footpaths around the pro-Cathedral. (31) The Churchwardens pro vided new gates, but both vandalism and the Bishop's complaints continued: "The gates are broken; the walls are scaled; the place is the resort of the most loose and disorderly characters at all hours of day and night; the tombs are broken, and the stones carried away." (32) The police reported that the damage to the tombstones was caused by cattle going through the breaches in the walls, and the depredations of numerous local schoolchildren. (33) In 1849 a further suggestion was made that the wall be replaced with a railing, the tombstones be laid flat and the ground levelled. This would lessen the sanitary problem and prevent the use of the grounds by immoral persons, child molesters and thieves who haunted the grounds to strip the children of their clothing. (34) In 1853 the Church of England applied to use the Old Burial Ground as the site for a library and theological college but this was refused on the grounds of the 1845 report, forbidding the further re moval of remains or the construction of any building on the site. (35) Throughout the 1850s the churchwardens
(31 ) Forde, J. M. - Newscuttings Vol. 14, p.150-2 Mitche11 Library Q 991/N. (32) Bishop of Sydney to Colonial Secretary, February 24, 1849. N.S.H. Legislative Assembly, Votes and Pro ceedings 1863, "Burial Grounds, Sydney" No.33,p.16. (33) Superintendant of Police to Colonial Secretary, March 9, 1849, N.S.W. Legislative Assembly, Votes and Pro ceedings 1863,"Buria1 Grounds, Sydney" No.36,pp.17-18. (34) John Bai11ie to Robert Campbe11, September 1, 1849, N.S.W. Legislative Assembly, Votes and Proceedings 1863 "Burial Grounds, Sydney" No. 42, p.20. (35) Minute to the Executive Council, December 19,1853 N.S.W. Legislative Assembly, Votes and Proceedings 1863 "Burial Grounds, Sydney" No. 64, p.26. 10 of the temporary cathedral continued to spend various sums on the repair of the burial ground walls. (36) The problem was investigated again in 1863 when the Legislative Assembly looked at proposals for a General Cemetery, but no action was taken. Then in 1867, a Select Committee of the Legislative Assembly reported on the St. Andrew's Cathedral Close Bill. In the intervening twenty-two years since the earlier Select Committee opinions and prejudices regarding the use of burial grounds had altered. The bill again proposed that the land be used for a Town Hal I. A 60 ft. strip, the site of the pro-Cathedral, was given to the Church of England in place of land lost in widening George Street. (37) (See Fig. 2). The major problems were whether the opening of the graveyard would cause an out break of disease, and what was to be done with the human rema ins interred there. Hhil st it was generally admitted that it would be best to remove all remalns, thlS posed considerable practical difficulties. The City engineer and Health Officer believed that in forty-seven years most remains would have decomposed, and the rest could only be recovered by removing the entire surface soil to a seven or eight foot depth. The Engineer and Mayor were in favour of removin!] only what was uncovered duri ng excavati ons for the founda ti ons. (:~8) Provision was made for the re-interment of human remains at the New Necropolis at Haslem's Creek (Rookwood). However, even in 1845 no-one knew 11here the various graves were situated, (3~) and many of the
(36) St. Andrew's Temporary Cathedral. Accounts 1842-69 t1itche11 Library A 591. (37) Evidence of Edward Bell, City Engineer. N.S.\~. Legislative Assembly, votes and Proceedings 1867-8 Vol. 4. Report from the Select Committee on St. Andrew's Cathedral Close ~ill. Printed November 15, 1867, pp.1-9. (38) Evidence of Edward Bell, City Engineer; Charles Moore, ~layor; Henry Graham, City Health Officer, N.S.W. Legislative Assembly, Votes and Proceedings 1867. "St. Andrew's Cathedral Close" pp.1-9, 10-18, 27-31. (39) Evidence of J. Tooth, N.S.N. Legislative Council, votes and Proceedings 1845 "General Cemetery" pp.811-29. 11
tombstones had been destroyed or stolen for a number of years. Only one tombstone was removed to Rookwood. that of Captain Gavin Hamilton. (40) lhere is no record of whose remains were transferred. forty-seven years of neglect and vandalism having produced total anonymity. The New Burial Ground in its turn suffered a similar fate. When it was resumed in 1888 to make way for Sydney's Central Railway Station. many of its monuments. including those already transferrpd from the Old ~urial Ground to that site. were relocated in metropolitan cemeteries set aside during the later nineteenth century. These included Haslem's Creek (now Rookwood) (1868). South Head (1869). Gore Hill (1868) and Waverley (1877). The greater number were relocated in the ~unnerong Cemetery at La Perouse. an extension of the already eXisting ~otany Cemetery. (41)
LATER DISCOVERIES IN THE OLD BURIAL GROUND Tne accidental uncovering of reminders of tne former use of this land in tne course of building activities is not new. No burials were uncovered during the construction of St. Andrew's Cathedral since its final location was outside the Old Burial Ground. as is shown in Fig. 2 and confirmed by the finding of the perimeter wall during recent excavations. Although the Temporary Cathedral. built in 1842. was in the south eastern corner of the Old Burial Ground, there is no record of burials being distu~bed. However, when the site was cleared for the Town Hall in 1868-9. several iron bark coffins were uncovered. (42) The Deanery of St. Andrew's was bUl1t on part of the Old Burial Ground (see Fig. 2) and coffins were unearthed during its construction in 1871-2. (43)
(40) Johnson. Pt.2. Descent v. i. 1970. pp.40-41. (41) Johnson. K.A. and Sainty. M.R. Gravestone Inscriptions N.S.W. p.iv (42) Forde. J. M. Newscuttings Vu1 .. 19. p.5. Mitchel1 Llbrary Q 991 N. (43) Ibid. Vol. 14, p.150-2. 12
In the 1890s watermain excavations uncovered skulls, (44) coffins and tombs were discovered six feet under the surface when the electric light cables were laid in 1904, (45) and workmen on the City Railway in 1929 discovered tombstones. (46) The discovery of vaults when the Old Deanery was demolished in March 1974 is the latest in this series, but probably the last, such is the nature of modern building activities. The fact that we will probably never again have the opportunity to examine such early architectural works in the city of Sydney makes them of considerable interest.
THE E~'ERGENCY EXCAVATION, APRIL 1974
Vault 1, the most complete tomb found by the bulldozer, lay very close to the south edge of the contractors' excavation at the point where an extra projection was left unexcavated to counteract the significant subsidence of the Cathedral's northern side. The vault was covered with slabs of white sandstone one of which had been broken by the bulldozer with part of it coming to rest in the tomb. The continuation of these slabs southwards into the unexcavated baulk together with continuous clay packing of a kind associated with Vault 1 strongly suggests that a further vault (Vault 2) may exist in line with the first and adjacent to it to the south. A group of three vaults (Vaults 3, 4 and 5) were found, during bulldozer operations, a few yards to the west of Vault 1. Here an almost complete corner (the south-east) of a vault (Vault 3) was found still standing in the undug baulk, as it had been sliced by the bulldozer, and in line with it extending out to the north could be found the traces of two more vaults (Vaults 5 and 4). Of these, Vault 4 was reduced
(44) Watson, J. "George Street Cemetery Relics", Scrap book Vol.l, p.98, Mitchell Library F 990.I/~I. (45) Ibid. (46) Johnson, Pt.2, Oescent v, i, 1970. p.41. 13 by the time recording began to a square brick outline two courses deep; workmen said the remains of a coffin had been observed but not kept. Vaults 3 and 5 were recorded in greater detail during their destruction. It is not clear whether any more bones or brick vaults had been found to the north of Vault 4; the workmen thought not. It is unlikely that more vaults exist south towards the Cathedral other than the suspected Vault 2, because of the finding of a destroyed brick wall running approximately east-west about three feet inside the projecting unexcavated baulk to the south of Vault 1 (cf. Fig.17 and 21). This wall, cut through at each end of the exposed profile south of the Vaults, was built of brick in a clay-packed trench on a base of shale and sandstone blocks. It would seem likely that this is what remains of the Old Burial Ground enclosure wall of 1820 perhaps on the stone foundations of the 1808-9 wall. The face of the exposed section ad jacent to Vault 3 preserved stratification which had been wholly removed from the other vaults by the time the emergency excavation began, and is worth discussion in detail. A soil profile taken just to the west of Vault 3 gave a more sensitive breakdown of layer changes than the conventional archaeological section shown on Fig. 17 (Appendix A and Table p. 26). Layers 12 to 16 represent the original ground surface and soil profile and the enclosure wall foundation was dug deeply into this. The wall trench, packed with the same mottled clay as the vault cuttings, continues through layer 11, consisting of mixed soil and clay redeposited during the primary period of the Burial Ground's use, which in turn is sealed by a layer of red sand, (layer 9). This sand appears to indicate a need for a suitable walking surface in this area perhaps during the construction and use of the Temporary cathedral. Above it is a white clay layer (layer 7) and a second red sand layer (layer 6) which extend over the now demolished wall and suggest a new layout perhaps c. 1867-72 when the land changed ownership, the pro-Cathedral was removed to another site and the new Deanery completed. Certainly it cannot have been 14 before 1858 when L10yd's watercolour of that date shows the enclosure wall still standing. (P1. 1) It is in fact clear from this water colour that no major rise in ground level was associated with the construction of either the Temporary Cathedral or the new Cathedral up to a date close to its completion. It would appear then that tne second red sandy layer is perhaps best associated with the layout of the Deanery (built 1870-2) rather than either the new Cathedral or the Town Hall.
The date ot the final levelling till of introduced sand and sandstone nearly two feet thick below the bitumen of the present Cathedral grounds is at present not known, but was probably towards the end of last century presumably to check subsidence from the massive weight of the Cathedral. Phase 1 (c.1792 - 1820) Graves dug into natural profile. Phase 2 (1808 - 1820) Construction of enclosure wall (brick) on stone foundation. Phase 3 (1867 - 72?) Demolition of upper part of wall now overlaid by second sand layer. Phase 4 ? Subsequent levelling up to present-day level by sandstone fill and bitumen paving. VAULT 1 The top of Vault 1 first appeared about five feet below existing ground level. The vaults are all dug into grey-white decomposed shale, which forms the floor in each instance. Above the level of the top of Vault 1 there were a series of mixed clay and soil horizons redeposited in the course of digging the vaults. Removal of the disturbed earth lying directly over the top of the vault revealed a layer of mixed humus and clay which covered two and a half sandstone slabs still in situ. This brown clayey soil with char coal continued around the east end of the vault to a depth of about two feet below the level of the brick arch. Below this solid clay surrounded the vault. In 15
general it was grey but became pall id or white at depth (i.e. at the level of the vault floor). However a cutting projecting fourteen inches out from the vault in al I areas tested appeared to have been packed intentiona with yellow clay. Under the surviving sandstone slabs was a packing of clay and stoney fill overlying tne bricks of the vault. The bulldozer had redeposited, mainly in the western half of the tomb, a mound of loose grey soil with assorted rubble including approximately one third of the vaulted roof. The coffin, only some of which was visible due to this redeposited rubble, was lying east-west, but at an angle that was not in keeping with the orientation of the vault. Pressure had been exerted on all four walls at some stage since each of them was bulging inwards. The clay and lime mixture used to cement the bricks together was missing from between many of the bricks. The doorway, which faced the west, was almost hidden by rubble; the wooden lintel, much of which had disintegrated, had fallen from above the doorway to rest witnin the rubble. Removal of this very recent rubble re vealed a thick red-brown clay floor in which the coffin was embedded. Brick piers, eventually found to stand three bricks in height, were exposed at each end of the coffin. Evidently the coffin had originally rested on four brick piers, two at either end, but a prolonged period of flooding had served to puSh it off the piers and embed it in the clay. The coffin, which was lying on its side, had layers of water-deposited mud resting on the western end of its lid. The deposits of clay inside the vault seem to indicate that flooding had occurred on two separate occasions. The three-inch deep deposit of heavy red-brown clay that had surrounded the coffin and lay immediately beneath the newly deposited rubble was the result of the most recent flooding. Beneatn this was a very thin stenle layer of grey soil lying above a water-washed deposit of grey and white clay. ThlS was the earliest evidence of the action of water within the vault. It lay above grey soil; underneath this was the original floor surface - a hard packed grey/ white clay. All of these lower layers were sterile. 16
The coffin which was lying on its side in the heavy clay layer, had Obviously collapsed at the time this clay was redeposlted. It was made of cedar and later tests revealed traces of the former presence of a si Iver name-plate. The lid had a groove around its perimeter and when excavated an iron hinge, quite dis integrated but recognisable, was found in situ. Other metal fittings - iron studs and two very corroded iron handles - were also found in the vicinity of the coffin. The coffin itself seemed to have been constructed not with nails but with wooden pegs. The vault itself was constructed of what are commonly known as sandstock bricks, approximately eight and a half inches by two inches by four and a half inches. The doorway, which had a wooden lintel above, had been blocked up with bricks after use. All walls were two brick courses deep. The bricks of the roof were on end. tlricks in the nortn-east corner of the vault had become bright orange due to water seepage. Another indication of disturbance by water was in the fragmentary remains contained in the coffin. The coffin was made wel I enough that water deposited clay did not settle in 'it; however the remains of the skeleton did show that there had been water in the coffin at one time. The bones were fragmentary and broken; the only bones recognlsable were a large portion of the skull and one femur. The sKeleton was so disturbed that the skull fraqment was found at the toot of the coffi n. Even though there was much evidence of water damage with in the vault the structure itself remained quite sturdy. The vault was still able to withstand the weight of bulldozers and vibrations of pneumatic drills with little damage other than the breaking and cracking of a few bricks before the bulldozer actually damaged the roof. VAULT 3 The south-east corner ot Vault 3 including part of the springing of the arch could be seen in the north-west face of the exposed unexcavated baulk on the Cathedral side. The south, east and some of the west wall remained at a lower level more or less intact although distorted by bulldozer action. Excavation within the area of the vault revealed that there had been an old collapse into it. A mass of fallen sandstone slabs was mixed with fragments from a memorial stone of altar or table style which had once stood above the vault. 17
These included parts of at least three legs and fragments of the stone discs WhlCh were probably originally placed above and below the legs. It is not clear whether the infilling of the sides was of brick or sandstone; the reconstruction (fig. 20) shows it as the latter. The surviving part of the south wall showed that bricks had been laid in much the same way as in Vault 1, with alternating rows of headers and stretchers. The four surviving courses of the vault however appeared to have been laid on edge rather than on end as in Vault 1, and the east wall had less frequent courses of headers. There was no indication of a door in the eastern end and it can be assumed like Vault 1, to have been in the west wall. Bricks ranged in length from 85/8" to 8J;,", by 2J;," by 4J;,". There is no indication when the vault collapsed, but it is notable that no coffin was found. Presumably the roof fell either during the removal of the coffin, or after it was emptied, whether in thel820s or later. The weight of the levelling fill during the construction of the cathedral remains the most likely cause of col lapse for both this and Vault 5. VAULT 5 This was the central burial of the three in the western row. It was constructed independently of the other two, with a solid clay packing between itself and each of them. It was revealed from the western side by a deep bulldozer cut which sliced away the whole western wal I. Thereafter it was excavated more slowly by the bulldozer in a series of slices from west to east after each of which the vault was cleaned and investigated by hand, and details recorded. This burial also had col lapsed, and was also empty. Technically it was not a vault at all, since its original roof was made of seven Australian hardwood beams squared on the underside and retaining their convex profile above. Beam 5, the fifth from the west side, had given way under the weight of the mass of grey clay above it and the right-angled semi-fracture in its north end was clearly preserved. In the clay and soil around this collapsed beam were found many fragments of glass, pottery and pipestems which continued through the two feet of solid clay above it. These finds are 18 dated only generally to the whole period of use of the Old Burial Ground; they were sealed only by tne level ling layers described above. They were incidentally especially associated with an intense patch of burning similar to one at the east end of Vault 1. Two of the beams had neat elliptical slots in their centres with associated bolts. There was some concentration of broken sandstone slabs towards the north end of beams 5, 6 and 7, suggesting a paving or possibly a memorial stone above ground level.
THE FINDS
The small finds came mainly from the areas above and around the vaults with the most pro lific area being that in the vicinity of Vault 5. The most abundant find was glass, both in small and large pieces. There was also a quantity of china recovered, some of it probably from a dump connected with the Deanery completed in 1872. The Glass In spite of the lack of close control in excavation, the glass finds form a very consistent picture (if the small group of square section and lettered pieces from the Town Hall side of the cutting is excluded). The great majority of pieces are from "black" glass liquor bottles with mostly hand-made rims, bodies formed in one or three-piece moulds, and heavy bases with high conical kick-ups. A total of thirteen rims and necks, and fifteen large and four small bases with conical kick-ups were found, as we1 I as two bases of more flattened conical interior, four square gin bottle bases, and three examples of a disc base made in a two-piece mould. (Fig.16, 1-5, 7-8). Among the body sherds, predominantly round-section bottles with three-piece mould marks are found, with some very thin fragments from square section black glass gin bottles. No fragments have embossed lettering. 19
Among the lighter green pieces a com paratively small number (about fifty in all) including one base came from pale olive green wine bottles. The base has the flattened conical kick-up typical for this class. (Fig. 16, 6). Of the clear glass pieces, four are from wine glasses, one nearly complete (found in the wall of Vault 3) (Fig. 19). About three pieces only (including a rim) are from large round-section bottles of wine type, and four are from thick taceted (straight sided) bottles of greenish tint. In addition about ten isolated pieces of window glass were found, very thin trom Vaults 4 and 5, thicker from Vault 1. The unstratified finds from near the Town Hall included a wider range of glass, notably two bases from embossed Schnapps bottles, some thin pieces of lamp glass, and clear medicine bottles. Thus the finds from the vault area certainly sealed below the second red sand layer c. 1867-72 give excellent support to the constant com plaints of unseemly drinking in the Old 8urial Ground. The black glass beers, blown in mould with pontil marks and largely hand-finished rims, are wholly characteristic of the period following the introduction of the three piece mould in 1810, and the presence of the gins is consistent with a period from about 1820 onwards. The disc-base black bottles with two-piece mould seams (Fig. 16,7) indicate a later date, (c.1840s or later). The probably octagonal medicine bottles are known from c. 1825. Although some of the glass finds may date from the primary interments, typologically they appear more likely to be of the thirties and forties. Such a date is consistent in general terms with other closed groups from datable sites, ego from Irrawang, New South Wales (1830s-40s) and from Wybalenna, Tasmania (1836-47) as well as from the sites in Sydney (eg. Pitt Street Congregational Church, before 1840). 20
The Pottery As well as glass, a few finds of china, stoneware, glazed earthenware and clay pipe stems appeared in and around the vaults, for which again a terminus ante quem is given by the red sand layer that seals them. Again they appear more characteristic of the twenties, thirties and forties rather than any later. A deposit of later gOOd quality china from the bulldozer cuts near the Town Hall can be associated with the household refuse from the Deanery. A number of finds were found closely associated wlth the old ground level, often immediately above the vaults. These finds include several smal I pieces of plain wnite earthenware and some of opaque white glass (lids of paste pots), many pieces of stone ware - white, grey and brown, usually from ginger-beer shaped bottles but including one Pale Ale white stone ware container, two or three fragments of brown lead glazed earthenware, and several pieces of blue transfer printed ware. Some of the stoneware pieces were of high quality, obviously imported; some were warped, presumably of local production, and one unstratified piece was biscuit-fired only. Although insignificant, these latter wil I repay further analysis since tney probably represent some of the rare examples of pre lB60 Sydney pottery. The transfer-printed wares were also of some interest, since although of undistinguished design they significantly differed from the blue transfer-printed pieces from the later Deanery dump, and also although few in number and smal I in size appeared to bear a general family resemblance to the small amount of transfer-printed wares recovered by the team from the lrrawang Pottery at Raymond Terrace (c.1832-52). These early examples can be grouped at present into four broad categories and one additional one which although as yet doubtless imprecise as a proper aid to identification of English sources, are nevertheless empirically viable for the archaeologist, viz. 21
A. Very pale blue designs often using dotted cells (frogspawn) and delicate festoons. (5 010, 5 038, 5 041, 5 042). B. Richer blue geometric designs especially the network of quatrefoils as well as simple classic Hi1 low Pattern central design. (5 001, 5 OO~, 5 012, 5 013, 5 014, 5 015, 5 016). C. Dark "smudgy" blue technique, fronds and indeter minate feathery forms. (5 007, 5 026, 5 039, 5 045). D. Outline floral garlands, ego briar roses, in pale blue. (5 018, 5 019, S 020, 5 OLl4). E. A finely-drawn small-scale honeycomb design, pale blue. lS 043). This combination of wares appears charact eristic of the thirties-forties at least in New South l~a1es, and raises the interesting and not unexpected hypothesis that (as today) each decade in the colony is characterised rather by the widespread distribution of a comparatively limited mass of imported range, than by any representation of the much wider selection actually available from British manufacturers at that time. Finally several clay pipe stems were found, among them a striped and dotted example not un common at this time, a stem embossed " ... H & Co." and also one inscribed "5. Elliott, Naker, Clarence Street". So far a George Elliot, 182e, and a Joseph Elliot, 1837, both clay pipe makers, are known from the trade direct ories; S. Elliott is as yet unknown . .n.s with the glass, a number of pottery sherds were turned up by the bulldozer in circumstances beyond our own control and observation. Many of these were found while we were working, at the same level as the vaults and can be reasonably dated to the period of both use and abandon ment of the 01 d Buri a 1 Ground. The finds from the north side of the cutting near the Town Hall were at a higher level, and can be assumed to be later. 22
Iron Coffin Fittings These were in a very fragmentary condition when found-and most of them disintegrated on removal. In Vault 1 two iron coffin handles, one iron hinge, and a quantity of iron stud-like coffin fittings could be identified. Some nails were recovered from the site; two iron bolts were found in association with the roof beams of Vault 5. Other Finds 1. White painted wooden leg of a table or chair, about 6~ inches long. From first bulldozer cut, Vault 5.
2. Iron door handle with traces of blue paint sti 11 remaining on the knob, just over four inches in length. From cutting on north side of the site. 3. A coin, probably a penny, Vault 1. 4. Part of a printing plate. From first bulldozer cut, Vault 4, south-east corner. Two nail holes on one side, one with rusted nail still in it. It measures just over four inches (complete side) by (probably) about three inches. Description: at top "CHUCKLES by CART\~R1GHT". Beneath this is an engraving of a car pulling a caravan with a man and a woman leaning out of the window of the caravan, trees, a road and mountains. At the bottom of the engraving is "Chas. Cartwright". In a section at the bottom is : " ..• here's - Promised our preach .... ication stops to attend church," 23
IDENTIFICATION OF THE VAULTS
It is apparent from the foregoing discussion of the disordered early history of the Old Sydney Burial Ground that identification of graves without the assistance of inscriptions is virtually impossible. Only general locations can be identified such as where members of the 73rd Regiment were buried. Otherwise identification can only be the subject of extreme speculation. In fact Keith Johnson made a tentative suggestion that Vault 1 might have been erected for the emancipist James Bloodsworth who died in 1804. This he based on the comparative wealth and style of the vault, since Bloodsworth, builder-architect of the first Government House, was given a State funeral by Governor King. While such a suggestion can certainly not be discounted it must be considered one hypothesis among a number of possibilities, particularly since Vault 1 did not differ greatly trom what survived of Vault 3, nor probably of Vault 4 either. 24
APPENDIX A
DESCRIPTION OF SOIL PROFILE FROM ST. AN DREW' S CATHEDRAL
Field and laboratory descriptions of a soil profile cut from the unexcavated baulk immediately to the south of Vault 3 have aided in interpreting the sequence of events. The layers identified fall into three basic categories : (a) Natural undisturbed soil layers. (b) Natural soil layers disturbed due to excavation. (c) Introduced material used for ornamental purposes. The accompanying table shows that the soil profile comprises disturbed layers overlying the undisturbed natural profile. Layer 12 is the AJ horizon of the undisturbed soil overlying the A2, Band C horizons. The profile has been formed from shale parent material. The clay, organic matter and pH depth trends are typical for this profile. The field description of Layer 11 is a mixture of the A and B horizons from the underlying soil profile. The laboratory analysis confirms this and probably represents the first stage of excavation. The soil material would not have provided a satisfactory surface for pedestrian traffic due to clay present and a veneer of brown sandy material (Layer 9) was laid down after the surface was graded (Layer 10). The properties of this material are unlike either the shale or the Hawkesbury sandstone (at about 2.5 metres below the surface) and therefore must have been introduced to the site. The provenance of Layer 8 is not clear from the field data, though it could be from Layer 10 or 11 excavated during a second stage of construction. The weathered shale evident in Layer 7 suggests excavation to the C horizon of the natural profile (supported by laboratory analysis). The old enclosure 25 wall was noted to nave its footings ln tne C norizon. A sand layer was placed over the clay material, probably for the same reasons as before. Layers 2 to 5 are discrete layers of either weatnered sandstone or weatnered sna1e and represent the thlrd stage of construction. Tne deeper foundatlons required for the present churcn would nave been excavated into the sandstone. The weathered shale layer would again represent spoil from below tne undisturbed soil layers. The 1ateritic gravel layer and bitum inous cover are unambiguously introduced from outside the area.
The pHs of layers 12 to 16 are typical for tnis soi I profile. The nigner pH values for layers 1 to 1U cannot be explained in terms of properties of soils in this area. Lime or slaked lime may have been incorporated into the spoil at tne time of excavation.
D. J. Plowman SOIL PROFILE - ST. ANOREW'S CATHEORAl layer Oepth F, el d Coarse Fine Silt Clay Urganic pH* (cm) Oescription Sand % Sand % % % Carbon % 1 0-10 Bituminous layer 37.7 18.0 6.5 37.8 0.33 7.3 over lateritic gravel 2 10-20 Sand with approx. 67.3 13.5 6.7 12.5 0.19 7.4 50% sandstone rocks 0.5 - 5 cm. 3 20-26 Weathered shale with 20.8 38.4 15.7 25.1 0.25 8.0 sandstone lenses N 4 26-40 Sand with sandstone 74.0 10.4 6.5 9.1 .05 8.5 '" rocks 0.5 - 10 cm. 5 40-50 Sand with approx. 67.3 11.2 8.3 13.2 0.25 8.4 50% sandstone rocks 0.5 - ~ cm. 6 50-5~ Reddish sand 46.9 21. 7 7.8 23.6 0.28 8.4 7 55-60 like the weathered 6.1 32.1 34.0 27.8 0.25 8.3 shale found at depth llayer 16). Striations of parent rock still eVident. 0, 60-b5 Unknown 8.7 50.6 29.1 11.6 0.53 8.2 SUIL PROFILE - ST. ANDREW'S cATHEDRAL (continued)
Layer Deptft Field Coarse Fine Silt Clay Organic pH* (cm) Description Sand % Sand % % % Carbon %
9 65-70 ~rown sandy layer 53.7 17.2 6.4 22.7 0.36 8.5 10 70-75 Transition layer 47.7 21.8 11. 5 19.0 0.61 7.9 11 75-90 Oisturbed and mixed 4.8 16.8 24.1 54.3 U.62 5.1 layer - similar to Layers 12-15 12 90-120 AI horizon of 6.9 29.8 25.3 38.0 1.44 5.0 original profile 13 120-135 A2 or E hOrizon 10.7 32.7 23.3 33.3 0.94 4.9 ....,N 14 135-150 Bl hOrizon 1.9 7.7 19.4 71.0 .05 5.0 15 150-160 B2 horizon 0.6 5.8 22.6 71.0 0.25 4.9 16 160 C horizon - grades 1.8 5.9 23.8 68.5 0.28 4.9 into rotting Ashfield sha 1e.
* 1:5 sOil/water extract 28
APPENDIX B CATALOGUE OF FINDS
GLASS
A. l~i ndow Glass No. of Inv. No. Fragments Provenance Descri pti on 7 Vault 4 1 Vault 5 4 Unstratified 1 Vault 1 1 Vau I t 1 B. Black Bottl es (Rlms and bases) G 001 Fig. 16.8 Vault 5 Base, conical kick-up. G 002 Fig. 16.6 Vault 5 Base, flattened conical kick-up, small. G 003 Fig. 16.7 Vault 5 Base, ring, double mould seam, large. G 004 Unstratified Base, conical kick-up, small . G 006 Fig. 16.4 Unstratified Neck and rim, hand finished. G 008 North side Base, square section, thin. G 009 North side Neck and rim. GOlD North side Neck and rim. G 011 Fig. 16.3 North side Rim on IY. G 012 North side Base, flattened conical kick-up, small. G 013 North side Base, ring, double mould seam, sma 11 . G 014 North side Body sherds round section. three piece mould mark G 015 Vault 5 Base, conical kick-up, small . G 016 Vault 5 Base, conical kick-up, 1arge. G 017 Vault 5 Base, conical kick-up, 1arge. G 018 Vault 5 Base, conical kick-up, 1arge. 29
No. of Inv. No. Fragments Provenance Description B. Black Bottles (continued)
G 019 Vault 5 Base, conical kick-up, large. G 020 Vault 5 Base, conical kick-up, large. G 021 Vault 5 Base, coni ca 1 kick-Up, large. G 022 Vault 5 Base, conical kick-Up, large. G 023 Vault 5 Neck, fragment. G 024 Vault 5 Base, square section. G 025 5 Vault 5 Neck. G 030 Vault 5 Rounded high kick-up. G 031 Vau It 5 Rounded high kick-Up. G 037 Vaul t 3 Rim, hand finished. G 038 Vault 5 Base, conical kick-up, large. G 039 Fig.16.5 Vault 3 Neck. G 040 Vault 3 Base. G 041 Fig.16.1 Vault 3 Rim and neck, hand finished. G 042 Vault 3 Base, coni ca 1 kick-up, large. G 044 Vault 5 Neck and rim. G 045 Vault 5 Neck and rim, handmade. G 046 Vault 5 Base, disc. G 047 Vault 5 Base, conical kick-up, small. G 048 Vault 5 Base, conical kick-up, small. G 049 Vault 4 Rim and neck. G 062 Unstratified Base, conical kick-up, large. G 065 Vault I Base, square. G 067 Vault 1 Base, conical ki ck-up. G 068 Vault 1 Neck, fragment. Black bottl es (Fragments) 20 Unstratified Round section. 30
No. of Inv. No. Fragments Provenance lJescription B. Black bottles lFragments)(continued). 4 Unstratified Square section. 11 Unstratified Round section. North Side 30 Vau It 5 Round secti on. 8 Vault 5 Round secti on, very thin, (shoulder). 13 Vault 5 Round section. 1 Vault 5 Square section. 3 Vault 5 Round section, base edges. 6 Vault 5 Round section. 6 Vault 3 Round section. 5 Vault 5 Round section, base edges. 19 Vault 5 Round section, thin. 7 Vault 1 Six round, one thin square. 3 Vault 1 Hound section. 7 Vault 1 Round section. C. Green Glass
I. Emera1 d G 007 Unstratified Base, square-section, North Side SChnapps bottle, embossed'S' . G 070 Vault 5 Base, square type. 1 Unstratified Large thick curved. 2. Pale Olive 8 Unstratified Very thin fragments. 28 Vault 5 Thin and medium, inc luding one small piece of base. 10 Vault 5 Thin and medium. I Vault I 3 Vault 1 Three thin. G 069 Vault I Base, flattened conical. 31
No. of Inv. No. Fragments Provenance Description
D. Clear Glass
G 005 Unstratified Corner from thick small square section bottle. G 026 Vault 5 One faceted and three plain bottle fragments. G 027 Vault 5 One faceted greenish piece. G 028 Vault 5 One clear low-domed base. G 029 Vault 5 One clear low-domed base. G 036 Vault 5 Two pieces base wine glass. G 050 Vault 4 One piece faceted glass. G 051 Flg.16.2 Vault 5 Rim complete, handmade. G 052 Vau I t 5 Clear but greenish square section bottle side. G 053 Vault 5 Round section clear bottle fragments. G 054 Vault 5 Very thin piece of clouded white. G 055 Vault 3 Base of wine glass. G 056 Vault 3 ~ase of bottle, disc type. G 057 Fig. 19 Vault 3 Nearly complete wine glass. G 058 iJns tra t i fi ed Extremely thick fine North Side ridged window glass, G 059 Unstratified Medical bottle, stoppered neck. G 060 Unstratified Short-necked jar neck. G 061 Unstratified Short-necked jar neck. G 063 3 Unstratified Very thick round section North Side with horizontal ridges. G 064 1 Unstratified Very thin clear jar North ::.ide fragment. (cf.060, 061). G 066 2 Vau I t 1 ~ound section clear glass bottle. (one thin). G 071 1 Vault 5 Rim fragment. 4 Vault 1 Clear glass bottle. 32
No. of Inv. No. Fragments Provenance Description
E. Brown Glass 2 Vault 5 Beer bottle
STONEWARE AND BROHN GLAZED EARTHENWARE POOl Clay above Rim and shoulder, Vault 5 dump ginger beer, shiney grey surface - warped. P 002 Vault 5, Clay Base and body of stone above Ileam 7 ginger beer, light brown. P 003 Vault 5, Cl ay Sloping shoulder of above Beam 7 stone ware ginger beer. P 004 3 Vault 5, Clay Three pieces white above beams. stoneware bottle; base, lower body and rounded shoulder with flattening for handle. Inside glazed (cf.008) P 005 Vault 5 Shoulder and body of stoneware ginger beer, qood grey surface. (cf.001) P 006 Vault 5 Small vertical handle attached to rim of brown lead-glazed ea rthenwa re. P 007 2 Vault 5 Two body fragments brown stoneware, prob ably ginger beer. P 008 1 Above Vaul t 5 One sherd white stone lburnt patch) ware (cf.004) in scribed -LF ALE in an inscribed oval. P 009 Vault 1 Smal I fragment of brown stoneware ginger beer. P 010 Vault 1 Brown glazed stoneware, body sherd probably ginger beer; bubbley glaze inside. P 011 2 Vault 1, Un- Two pieces brown stone- stratified roof ware ginger beer. fall. 33
No. of Inv.No. Fragments Provenance Description
Stoneware and Brown Glazed Earthenware (continued)
P 012 1 Vau I t 1, One piece brown stone Unstratified ware (ginger beer). rOOf fa Il. P 013 1 Heavi ly burnt One piece brown stone patch above ware. Vault 5 P 014 2 Vault 1 Small fragments brown South-west lead glazed earthen trench ware, one with inside white glazed face. P 015 Unstratified ~iscuited only earthen ware pie dish.
OTHER POTTERY AND CHINA white Earthenwares S 060 Outside Vault Rim of porringer, plain 2 on top of white. clay 32" below asphalt. 5 061 3 In clay above Grooved rim of galley beams, Vault 5 pot, white ware. S 062 Vault 1, short straight rim, south-west opaque glass. Trench. S 063 3 Vault 1, White earthenware. South-west Trench. 5 064 4 Vault 1, \4hi te earthenware. Unstratified roof fall. S 065 Thick clay Fragment of rounded layer inside rim, white earthenware Vault 1. (crazed). S 066 Burnt patch in Rim fragment of lid, top of E section opaque glass as Vault 5. 062 (rim of Gentlemen's Re 1 ish 1 id) . S 067 2 Burnt patch in White earthenware. top of E section above Vaul t 5. 34
No. of Inv. No. Fragments Provenance Description
White Earthenwares (continued)
S 068 Vault 3, Curved white south wall, ea rthenwa re. lower.
Transfer-Printed ~lares \earthenware)
S 001 Vault 1, Sunk edge of white South-west glazed earthenware Trench. dish with dark blue geometric decoration (quatrefoil net). S 002 Vault 1, Sunk edge of white South-west glazed earthenware Trench. dish with dark blue geometric decoration (quatrefoil net).
S 003 Vault 1, Sherd only, medium South-west blue, design of Trench. feathery leaves. S 004 Vault 1, Sherd only, pale South-west blue floral design. Trench. S 005 Vault 1, Part of plate base South-west design in dark blue. Trench. S 006 Vault I, Part of plate base South-west design in dark blue. Trench. S 007 Vault 1, Sherd only with smudgy South-west dark blue design. Trench. SOlO Vault 1, Sherd only, pale blue Roof Fall floral design. \upper) . S 011 South-east White glazed base of corner Vault 4, plate marked " ... age disturbed. Ware MADE IN " 35
No. of Jnv. No. Fragments Provenance Description
Transfer-Printed Wares (earthenware) (continued)
S 012 3 Unstratified Rim of plate with dark blue geometric design (quatrefoil net). S 013 Unstratified Sherd from sunk edge of above. S 014 Unstratified Sherd from sunk edge of above. S 015 Unstratified Sherd from sunk edge of above. S 016 Unstratifi ed Sherd from sunk edge of above. S 017 Unstratified Rim of plate, brown transfer-printed fl ora 1 border. S 018 Unstratifi ed Sunk edge of plate, pale blue flower spray. S 019 Unstratified Similar, dotted motif. S 020 Unstratified Base of plate, pale blue dotted scallop design. S 021 Uns tra t ifi ed Sherd only, sea green border. S 022 Unstratified Rim, sea green border. S 023 Unstratified Sherd only, green net and swirl design. S 024 Unstratified Sherd only, buildings in pinkish red. S 025 Unstratified Sunk edge of plate green fleur-de-lys design. S 026 Unstratified Rim smudgy, very dark blue design. S 027 2 Unstratified Plate rim and sherd, fluted edge, painted with brown apple de- sign with blue and green. S 028 4 Unstratified Base and rim of saucer, blue meander pattern border. S 029 Unstratified Large rim sherd (as above). 36
No. of Inv. No. Fragments Provenance Description
Transfer-Printed Wares (earthenware) (continued)
S 030 Unstratified Rim of saucer, mauve- blue meander design, (different from S 028) S 031 Unstratified Thick rim sherd from vase, deep mauve f1eur- de-1ys design on neck. S 032 Unstratified Rim, vegetable dish lid, design of past- oral medallions and blossom trees in pale blue. S 033 Unstratified Wide rim of plate, design of harebells in pale blue. S 034 Unstratified Rim and base of similar. S 035 Uns tra t ifi ed Large rim sherd with design as S 032. S 036 Unstratified Large rim and base fragment of white plate with dark purple- blue looped ribbon design. On back the letter M in purple- blue, also the word MALTESE surrounded by a ring of circles in the same colour. Beneath is "J.T.& ... " S 037 2 Unstratified Base of plate, design of fence and hedge in pale blue. S 038 Burnt patch Rim sherd from plate, above Vault 5 geometric border de- sign in very pale blue. S 039 2 Unstratified Thin rim sherds with band border of dark blue on paler blue. S 040 Unstratified Sherd from sunk edge of plate, floral design in dark blue. 37
No. of [nv. No. Fragments Provenance Description
Transfer-Printed Wares (earthenware) (continued)
S 041 Uns tratifi ed Small sherd from plate, design of horse's back legs weari ng ori enta 1 blanket in mid- blue. S 042 Unstratifi ed Similar design of feathery leaves. S 043 2 Outside Vault Sma 11 fragments 2, above clay honeycomb design in mid-blue. S 044 2 Vault 1 Small fragments, rich blue and white desi~n. S 045 Inside Vault 1 Small sherd, smudgy in clay layer. mid-blue design. S 046 1 Vault 1, Small fragment, fine Roof fall. painted flowers.
Clay Pipes S 050 Vault 1, Pipe stem, small South-west fragment. Trench. S 051 Vault 1. Pipe stem embossed , . H & Co.' The W is preceded by a full stop, the preceding letter unreadable. S 052 Vault 5 Pipe stem, two parts of mould poorly aligned, embossed alternating oblique ridges and dots. S 053 Vault 5 Pipe stem, plain, shaved. S 054 Vault 5 Pipe stem, plain, shaved. S 055 Vault 5 Pipe stem, plain, shaved. S 056 Vault 4, Pipe stem inscribed "S. disturbed Elliott, Maker, Clarence area. Street". 38
BIBLIOGRAPHY
I. Historical References Parliamentary Papers N.S.W. Legislative Council Votes and Proceedings, 1845. Report from the Select Committee on the General Cemetery Bill. Printed October 22, 1845. N.S.W. Legislative Assembly Votes and Proceedings, 1863-4 Vol.5. Return to an order - Burial Grounds, Sydney and Proposed General Cemetery. Printed July 3, 1863. N.S.W. Legislative Assembly Votes and Proceedings, 1867-8 Vol. 4. Keport from the Select Committee on the St. Andrew's Cathedral Close Bill. Printed November 15, 1867. Manuscript Sources
Joseph Arnold, Journal 1810-15. Mitchel I Library C 720. Joseph Arnold, Diary. Mitchell Library ,tJ, 1849-2. St. Andrew's Temporary Cathedral - Accounts 1842-69. Mitchell Library A 491. Houison, Kev. A. "Notes on St. Andrew's Parish from the Sydney Morning Herald" Mitche'll Library Q 283.91/4. Other Sources Barry, J. A. The City of Sydney - Story of its Growth Old and New Sydney 1902. Bertie, C. H. Story of Old George Street Tyrell~ 1920. Forde, J. ~1. Newscuttings, VOl.14, pp.lbO-2. r1itchell Library Q 991/N. Forde, J. M. Newscuttings, Vol.19, p. 5, Mitchell Library Q 991/N. Johnson, K. A. and Sainty, M. R. Gravestone Inscriptions N.S.~I. Vol.l, Sydney Burial Ground, Elizabeth and Devonshire Streets. Genealogical Publications of Australia 1973. Johnson, K. A. "Sydney's Earliest Burial Grounds Pt.l - 1788-1792" Descent iv, 3, 1969. 39
Johnson, K.A. "Sydney's Early Burial Grounds Pt. 2 - The Old Burying Ground, George Street, 1792-1869". Descent v, 1, 1970. Pike, D. (ed) Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol. 1. 1788-1850. A-H. Nichols, G. R. The Church of England in Australia - Historical Notes, lY13. Watson, J. H. The Church of England in Australia - Newscuttings Vol. 2. Mitchell Library Q 283.901/W. Watson, J.H. "St. Andrew's Cathedral" ::;ydney Diocesan Magazine 1920-1921 Hatson, J. H. Scrapbook, Vol. I, Mitchell Library F 990. I/W. Newspapers Sydney Gazette 1804-9, 1819-20.
II. Glass
A 11 en, J. Archaeology, and the History of port Essington, Unpublished PhD thesis, Department of Prehistory, A.N.U. 1969. Dunkerley, A.C, Catalogue of Displayed Bottles (Australian Glass Manufacturers' Company Bottle ~1useum, available from The Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney) Hutchison, D. Hints for the identification of bottles, (Western Australian Museum) Lerk, J.A. Bottles in Collection {Cambridge Press, Bendigo, Australia 1971}. Lorrain, D. An Archaeologist's Guide to Nineteenth Century American Glass, Historical Archaeology 1968, 35-44. Vader, J. and Antique Bottle Collecting in Australia Murray B. (Ure Smith, Sydney 1975) Hills, G. English and Irish Glass, lY68.
Ill. Pottery A11 en, J. Archaeology, and the History of Port Essington, Unpublished PhD thesis, Department of Prehistory, A.N.U. 1969. 40
Coysh, A. W. Bl ue and Hhite Transfer l~are .1780-1840 Newton Abbot, 1970. Fahy, K. Pottery in the Australian Colonies 1788- lH05, The Australasian Antigue Collector No. 3, 1967. Fahy, K. Potters and Potteries in Sydney and New South Wales, 1803-1900. Pottery in Austral ia 10, No. 2, 1971. Lawson, H. A History of Industrial Pottery Pro duction in New South I,ales, Journal of Royal Australian Historical Society 5/, Pa rt 1, 1971. r~ankowitz, H. The Concise Encyclopedia of English and Haggar, R.G. Pottery and Porcelain Andre Deutsch, London, 1957. Wakefield, H. Victorian Pottery, London 1962. {
'f).I) JR
_ ""Pu"l,,,bu,ld',,,q , .. ;:::;:l OI'h ... hcu.~~" .1 .1oh :1'114 HI., P ...... i!4 ,-m- Gc~' H , ~~"~--~ ~-~-j,",-!,,~ j":::i:~ ~~~~~ .\F3''';:~ ~~J! , ~ _11 ______..__ " . -}_~ - "'-11 I, WO~D hi (J U, {J)1[j) ;'''"'1t~~;:.t,(>n Fi g. 1 Map of the town of Sydney, 1826, drawn and engraved for the proprietor W. G. Caporn. (Reproduced by courtesy of Mitche11 Library, Sydney.) Fig. 2 Composite plan showing Vault 1 in relation to St. Andrew's Cathedral, Town Hall, Deanery, School House, Temporary Cathedral and Old Burial Ground. (Drawn from Plan of Old Burial Ground and Cathedral Close, n.d. r~itchell Library SVI/CHU/ST.AN!3; Plan of Cathedral and Town Hall site, 1867. r,1itchell Library M1/811.1732j 1867/1; N.S.I~. Legislative Assembly Votes and Proceedings 1867, st. Andrew's Close Bill. Appendix B - plan attached to evidence of E. Bell; Appendix E2, site of St. Andrew's Cathedral, and Appendix E3, survey of Old Burial Ground, attached to the evidence of W.R. Davidson.) ! i lL. L ,- J i~ llATHURST STREET ~-- ~ --- ~ -~\ 1 \i ([1: 0 \ .j I-Ii I t"'» :n . It/ l'1 '1. III 0 \ l'1 \ t'1" I'" I 0 111 I'l t;) /%j I IfI I / 1 PI. 1 Henry Lloyd, St. Andrew's Cathedral, corner of George and Bathurst streets, Sydney. (A view showing building operations in progress.) (In his "Sketches of New South wales" Vol. 1. f.22, 1H58. Watercolour) Reprinted in F. T. Whltington, wi1liam Grant Broughton, B1Shop of Australia Angus and Robertson, Sydney, 1936, facing p.144. (Reproduced by courtesy of tne Dixson Library, Sydney. ) P1. 2 John Rae: View of George street looking north, showing Jewish Synagogue, Police Offices, the Markets, Old Burial Ground, now the site of the Town Hall. 1842. (Reproduced by courtesy of the Dixson Galleries, Sydney.) PI. 3 View of Vault 1, showing the damage caused by the bulldozer, rubble packing above the vault, and a sandstone slab in situ on it. The original cutting for the tomb can be seen in section to the left of the picture, repacked with mottled clay. The bricks-on end construction of the vault is distinctive. undug baulk ... __.- . --.. Mixed packing clay Sandstone slab ~~- Charcoal spread I;?-=--l Grey & yellow clay Clay, charcoal & humus I=id Decomposed shale & clay scale feet Fig. 3 Vault 1. ~ection at east end. o 2 3 PI. 4 View into Vault 1 as found, with I id of coffin in situ. The white stain marking the pOSition of the original name plate can be clearly seen at the east end of the lid. Plo 5 Vlew of cedar coffin in Vault 1 with lid removed. Infiltrated roof debris overlies the fragmentary bone material. Plo 6 Interior of Vault 1, after removal of coffin, showing brick door blocking off west end with the space left by the partially-rotted wooden lintel above It, and the fallen sand stone slab in the foreground. I Fig. 5 Vault 1. Plan of interior. r c earlier deposit ~"'(; . '... , , ,c ... '-=- __ ~; _ _~~ __ \ red clay - - , - ---=-~,,-=-----==--:..4 -:: -..:::------\ g.. yclay -___ -_ _ _ _ _ nCl ..l--:::- =------,. -- - - - feet o Fig. 6 Vault 1. Section at east end (interior). EAST ELEVATION --- -J... ., .. ", ~ " ,H" '" " .J .. '"'H P " ".. ,,, " . ", 'H ";i " .. ". " " " I • '" " I " " '" " " " " " " " " .. " " " " " " .. " .. J WEST ELEVATION , 1.'7: ,;; + ., , 0/- I '"' •I +-" , " , f ~', 1 1 ,! ---~.''!!'!!"'-'--~!'' - EXTERNAL ELEVATION LOCATICN PLAN OF ARCH (EAST END) Fig. 7 Vault 1. Plan and elevation. (by courtesy of Fox and Associates, Architects, Sydney. ) NORTH ELEVATION ~l Ff ; r:Ji ITV !=, , a .. " • " " " " " " " '" . " .." " " " .' " .. " M no " A JI" f " 'U ,; .. " " " " .' " " " .. , " " " " " .. " " " " " " , " " ... " " " " • " " . " " " " " " " ... " .. , " .. • .. ~ " .. " " " " " " " " " " " • • SOUTH ELEVATION ,. -. __ 51MIO ,OR COFF'" ,- [1 -< C,AY '"L~JIl , ~ , ASS,,"! ) W PLAN A T ~,\!" . CO~'if:~ ; '. , " , , ,,' , , Fig. 8 Vault 1. Plan and elevation. (by courtesy of Fox and Associates, Architects, Sydney. ) Fig. 9 Vault 1. Cedar coffin, reconstruction 1--= -,:::-1 o 6 12 , - - 2'3" - 2'6" -" -<6 - c:::::::: North South ;:... § , l ~ ~ k 6' - >I I<- 6' 5'10" 'I Fig, 10 Vaults 4, 5 and 3, Plan. scale feet 0 2 3 Fig. 11 Vaults 4, 5 and 3. Secti on. Plo 7 Vaults 4, 5 and part of 3, from the west. Efl --: b:;;----=::: ~.~. I -~ beam . ____~ __ ._~_ J ~---- (.....~ l nu -~. Ull IT] Fig. 12 Vault 5. Plan of eastern part \upper level) with Beams band 7 as found. Fig. H Vault~. Plan of western part (lowest level). Plo 8 Vault 5. View of Beam 6 in situ with clay packing above. sandstone t>.. .. --. .•.__ ~ 4JY bri~day & wood fill. ,Jjf_ Fi g. 14 Vault 5. Section through collapsed vault showing Beam 7 as found. Plo 9 Vault 5. View of vault showing tieam 7 and sandstone superstructure...... ,,,,, . ., .' ., " . '. ' '. .~ . '. 1 '. ' t·, \' '" I !, 't beam 2 beam 4 \, ... ' beam 7 ~ beam 5 beam 3 beam 6 Fig. 15 Vaul t 5. Roof beams. feet =0 2 C~ '\\ ~~ 3 4 5 2 o mould seam 7 inch o • 6 8 Fi g. 16 Vaults 3 and 5. Glass bottle fragments. I. G 041 Vault 3 Black glass 2. G 051 Vault 5 Clear glass 3. G 011 Unstratified Black glass 4. G 006 Vault 5 Black glass 5. G 039 Vault 3 Black glass 6. G 002 Vault b Black glass 7. G 003 Vault 5 Black glass 8. G 001 Vault 5 ~lack glass A lipping tool may have been used for Gall. Pl. 10 South baulk (west). View of Vault 3 (left) and old enclosure wall (right). ,. G • o "" ::.:::::-;-.-..;::': vault 3 \ Asphalt Grey-white cloy Mixed packing clay Rubbly brick-red sandy Grey mottled clay & humus Yellow decomposed sandstone - BrOYl"n clay & decomposed shale scale feet rig. 17 south baulk (west). Section. o 2 3 Plo 11 Vault 3, partially cleared. G c --" --_.".-" ---- Fig. 18 Vault 3. South face scale feet 0 2 3 Fig. 19 Vault 3. Wine glass base (G 057) (scale 1:1) Fig. 20 Vault 3. Table monument reconstruction. " /1/ /1/ /11 " ~'- //1 III " /1/ IiI 4; /11 /./ 11/ /il // /11 #1 III iI/ ,,~ IIi -.':," . .> ",::": ',' " Co - -. o c o c " " -G D Dark grey rubbly soil Asphalt Grey-white mixed clay Dark brOW'n soi I Rubbly brick-red sandy Decomposed sandstone Sandstone ~- ~rey mottled cloy & humus Decomposed red-brick with - .._": ... i some bricks scale fee' o 2 3 Fig. 21 South baulk (east). Sect; on. Pl. 12 South baulk. The soil profile was taken just to the left of the vertical tape.