Reminiscent of the South African Veld or the American West, wooden fences around graves were once a common sight in New Zealand. As the nineteenth century drew to a close the availabilty of wrought iron railings marked a change in tastes for funereal ornamentation, but the need to recycle iron for the wars of the twentieth century saw many of these elaborate railings consigned to the Smelter's furnace.
Above is an ornate example of wooden fenced grave from the 1880s, which barely survives in the Ashburton Cemetery. A relic from an era when child mortality was commonplace, it surrounds the graves of the four children of William and Mary Ullyatt of Methven.
Above is an ornate example of wooden fenced grave from the 1880s, which barely survives in the Ashburton Cemetery. A relic from an era when child mortality was commonplace, it surrounds the graves of the four children of William and Mary Ullyatt of Methven.
Anna, Emma, John and George Ullyatt died between 1883 and 1887, but their farming parents retired to Christchurch and were buried in the Linwood Cemetery in 1917 and 1924.
It is to be hoped that this extremely rare survivor of Canterbury's heritage will be restored before it finally falls prey to the elements.
Addendum
It is to be hoped that this extremely rare survivor of Canterbury's heritage will be restored before it finally falls prey to the elements.
Addendum
Above: designated in October, 2005 for restoration by the Christchurch City Council is the fenced grave of Walter Powell Beauchamp in the Linwood Cemetery. A Clerk of New Brighton Road, 20 year-old Beauchamp died on the 2nd of April 1888 after only eight years in the colony.
Made of Totara, the remains of the contemporaneous wooden fence had undergone partial restoration by April 2009 (below), but the original pickets have yet to be replaced.
LARGE IMAGE OPENS IN A NEW TAB OR WINDOW
Sarndra's lovely photograph of the wooden fenced grave of a child and her grandmother in Auckland's Waikumete Cemetery.
This is a good example of how the fenced graves depicted above might be restored. Enclosing flowering shrubs would add colour and also attract birds to otherwise rather drab and utilitarian cemeteries.
Landscaping our historic cemeteries as parks of remembrance could make them more attractive to the public and quite possibly circumvent the ongoing problem of vandalism.
LARGE IMAGE OPENS IN A NEW TAB OR WINDOW
Sarndra's lovely photograph of the wooden fenced grave of a child and her grandmother in Auckland's Waikumete Cemetery.
This is a good example of how the fenced graves depicted above might be restored. Enclosing flowering shrubs would add colour and also attract birds to otherwise rather drab and utilitarian cemeteries.
Landscaping our historic cemeteries as parks of remembrance could make them more attractive to the public and quite possibly circumvent the ongoing problem of vandalism.
Photo credits: Sandra Lees and Early Canterbury Photographers
