Photos taken on 30th November 2020
Then & Now
Everyone likes a game of “then and now” – which do you prefer? Original photo courtesy of WCC Archives Online.
Original photo:
Record Identifier39-8
Date Range 1983
Text on slide: Karori Cemetery CEM 008.
Copyright Attribution Wellington City Council
Copyright LicenseCC-BY
Citation Wellington City Council Archives, 00557-39-8
Then & Now
Another “then and now”. Interesting how the Main Chapel was once so visible on the skyline, as was the Underwood angel, and The Shelter more open. The implements shed has undergone quite a transformation too!
Original photo:
Copyright Attribution
Wellington City Council
Copyright License CC-BY
Citation
Wellington City Council Archives, 00557-39-18
Then & Now
Third in our “then and now” series and I’ll stop for a bit! Although with this one, I’m not sure I have the correct tree. It’s main trunk looks taller in 1983! But close enough?
Original photo:
Photo courtesy of WCC Archives
Copyright Attribution
Wellington City Council
Copyright License
CC-BY
Citation
Wellington City Council Archives, 00557-39-12
Sexton’s House
The previous Sexton’s house was such a charming building. And check out the dandies in the road!
Photo courtesy of Wellington City Recollect:
“The entrance to Karori Cemetery with the Sexton’s Cottage on the right. Date c. 1900 Reference 50010-90”
1895 Watercolour
Now isn’t this something special. An 1895 watercolour of our wee Shelter at the Cemetery. Painted by Mary Catherine (Taylor) Medley, from the Alexander Turnbull Library.
Biography from The National Library website:
Taylor, Mary Catherine, 1835-1922. Daughter of Rev Richard Taylor and Mary Caroline Taylor. Born at Coveney Rectory, Ely, Cambridgeshire, England and came with her parents to New Zealand in 1839. An amateur artist. In 1863 she married Lieutenant Spencer Mansel Medley, RN, who served as an aide-de-camp to Governor Grey. In 1865, the couple returned to England, but came back to New Zealand later. They had one daughter, Adela. Around 1870 the couple was stationed at Porchester, near Portsmouth. See The Missionary’s Daughter (1993), the edited journals of her sister Laura Harper for further information. In her later years, Mary Medley was involved in the suffragette and temperance movements, as well as in the interests of Maori women. Mary Medley is buried with her husband and daughter in Karori Cemetery, Wellington.
Reference: Medley, Mary Catherine (Taylor), b. 1835 :Karori Cemetery. Jany 21st [18]95.. Medley, Mary Catherine, 1835-1922 :Sketchbook of Mary C. Medley nee Taylor…1895. No. 14.. Ref: E-379-010. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23147192
Very Eerie in the Cemetery
SS Penguin
Another interesting image related to the S.S. Penguin tragedy. Elegant funeral transport of the day.
“THE FUNERAL OF TWO OF THE PENGUIN’S PASSENGERS, THE LATE MRS. BRITTAIN AND G. TROADEC, LEAVING ST. MARY’S, WELLINGTON, FOR THE KARORI CEMETERY, FEBRUARY 16, 1909”
Taken from the supplement to the Auckland Weekly News 25 FEBRUARY 1909 p016
Read more about the SS Penguin here
James Doxy Burtinshaw
Accidentally killed February 1904.
Erected by his shipmates.
This charming headstone caught our eye. Who can walk past “accidentally killed” and not wonder?
According to newspaper reports, James (aged 19) was an assistant pantryman on the SS Rotoiti. While crossing the Corinthic with a bag of linen to return to his own ship, he fell down one of the holds – a distance of about 40ft. He died in hospital a few hours later.
A native of Cheshire, James Burtinshaw was the son of Henry & Emily. His father had various occupations as a gas fitter, commercial traveller and property agent over the years. The family moved between the Isle of Wight, London and Stockport during James’ childhood.
Description
Image of a large dark coloured steam ship on calm waters with a number of people aboard. Stencilled ROTOITI | DUNEDIN on the prow. Smoke rises from a large chimney in the centre of the image. To the left is a wooden wharf, with a crowd gathered to watch the ship in the distance.
Place Dunedin Other Number PH-1995-15-13
Sir Francis Dillon Bell
It’s Movember and we’re celebrating with some of the famous mustaches resident at Karori Cemetery. Sir Francis Dillon Bell (1822-1898) not only sports some fine facial accoutrements but was also the father of our first New Zealand-born Prime Minister: Francis Henry Dillon Bell (1851-1936). Both are buried at Karori. The Bell family plot has recently had some upgrades and planting undertaken by the family.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
