THE BRICK BARREL DRAINS AKA THE SMUGGLER’S TUNNELS
A major improvement to Thompson Square ordered by Macquarie was the introduction of good drainage. A contract was issued:
“To Sink and Erect One Sewer in the middle of the Square with Channels leading thereto or to sink and Erect two sewers one on each side of the Square as laid down in the Plan in the possession of His Excellency Governor Macquarie”.
The History
The contractors for the work were John Howe and James McGrath of Windsor. The first contract was paid for with £350 and 350 gallons of Bengal Rum or other spirits “of the best kind” and the second was paid at £600. They were allowed the use of bullocks and carts and for the sewer they were allowed to make between 120,000 to 150,000 bricks on the new government brickfields at Windsor and they could purchase spikes from the store. They were contracted to complete the first contract in six months and the second in twelve months.
A large, brick barrel drain(s) was constructed c.1815 from North to South through the area. The contract provided for either a central drain with side drains or two drains on either side of Thompson Square. The pictures attached shows an example of the construction in Parramatta of a later drain but using the same methods. The bricks are handmade and held together with lime mortar.
Increasingly during the last years of the nineteenth century the sanitation of the town was raised as an issue of concern. One particular area raised great anxiety; this was a sewer that emerged near the punt house (possibly an outlet of the brick barrel drain). In March 1895 it was reported that “complaints are being made respecting the sewer pipes emptying near the old punt house causing an intolerable nuisance. Some of the pipes have fallen in and sorts of disgusting rubbish has accumulated”. Complaints were still being made about this place later in the year when it was observed that it was “still in a filthy condition and likely to breed disease”.
Evidence:
The drain has been seen within the last thirty years and it seems more likely that a central drain was constructed; this would mean that apart from the principal drain there is the potential for smaller drains to be found within Thompson Square running to individual properties. There is no archival evidence available to determine the location of any secondary drains. The entire bridge project area on the southern side of the river must be considered archaeologically sensitive in this case; especially as the works compound is proposed to be in the car park area where the drain is likely to be.
The 1934 cutting in front of the Dr’s House, certainly exposed and destroyed part of the drain system there.In 1985 part of the sewer was uncovered under the old Boat Club building (demolished in the 1960s) and archaeologist and heritage consultant, Edward Higginbotham was employed to examine it; concluding that it was similar to brick barrel tunnels in Parramatta and was certainly part of the sewer. The outlet of one of these drains was indeed uncovered under the old wharf, and photographed in 1986 by Higginbotham. This is the last known sighting as the project was not followed through by Council.
In the early 1990s, following bank scouring caused by flooding, the Council installed gabions above and over the old wharf and the drain, totally obscuring, if not destroying, the remains of both. In December 2011 a limited GPR survey was made in Thompson Square, by Cosmos Archaeology (as part of the E.I.S) within the upper and lower parkland areas. It identified the potential for intact lateral drains from the
central barrel drain built in 1815 and an unidentified domed object at the northern end of the reserve at a depth of 1.5 metres ( near the tent embassy).
The Legend:
There have been allegations of a cave or tunnels in Thompson Square. Illicit rum‐running was rife along the Hawkesbury in the early days and older residents recount that kegs of spirits were brought up from the river bank through a tunnel into an excavation in Thompson Square. Access to these “tunnels” is rumoured to be in the basements of the Pizza Parlour and The Macquarie Arms. Local historian Rex Stubbs carried out a spirited debunking of the myth. He noted that part of the original sewer was uncovered during roadwork in Bridge Street in the 1930s and that this helped to promote the local legend.
The Significance:
These beautifully constructed drains show evidence of Macquarie’s extraordinary vision for improving living conditions and good town planning. They also provided excellent evidence of 19th century construction techniques and examples of brick work locally made. Culturally, they provide links to Lachlan Macquarie, James McGrath and John Howe. Option One will destroy and remove the complex archaeological profile of these early works.
A major improvement to Thompson Square ordered by Macquarie was the introduction of good drainage. A contract was issued:
“To Sink and Erect One Sewer in the middle of the Square with Channels leading thereto or to sink and Erect two sewers one on each side of the Square as laid down in the Plan in the possession of His Excellency Governor Macquarie”.
The History
The contractors for the work were John Howe and James McGrath of Windsor. The first contract was paid for with £350 and 350 gallons of Bengal Rum or other spirits “of the best kind” and the second was paid at £600. They were allowed the use of bullocks and carts and for the sewer they were allowed to make between 120,000 to 150,000 bricks on the new government brickfields at Windsor and they could purchase spikes from the store. They were contracted to complete the first contract in six months and the second in twelve months.
A large, brick barrel drain(s) was constructed c.1815 from North to South through the area. The contract provided for either a central drain with side drains or two drains on either side of Thompson Square. The pictures attached shows an example of the construction in Parramatta of a later drain but using the same methods. The bricks are handmade and held together with lime mortar.
Increasingly during the last years of the nineteenth century the sanitation of the town was raised as an issue of concern. One particular area raised great anxiety; this was a sewer that emerged near the punt house (possibly an outlet of the brick barrel drain). In March 1895 it was reported that “complaints are being made respecting the sewer pipes emptying near the old punt house causing an intolerable nuisance. Some of the pipes have fallen in and sorts of disgusting rubbish has accumulated”. Complaints were still being made about this place later in the year when it was observed that it was “still in a filthy condition and likely to breed disease”.
Evidence:
The drain has been seen within the last thirty years and it seems more likely that a central drain was constructed; this would mean that apart from the principal drain there is the potential for smaller drains to be found within Thompson Square running to individual properties. There is no archival evidence available to determine the location of any secondary drains. The entire bridge project area on the southern side of the river must be considered archaeologically sensitive in this case; especially as the works compound is proposed to be in the car park area where the drain is likely to be.
The 1934 cutting in front of the Dr’s House, certainly exposed and destroyed part of the drain system there.In 1985 part of the sewer was uncovered under the old Boat Club building (demolished in the 1960s) and archaeologist and heritage consultant, Edward Higginbotham was employed to examine it; concluding that it was similar to brick barrel tunnels in Parramatta and was certainly part of the sewer. The outlet of one of these drains was indeed uncovered under the old wharf, and photographed in 1986 by Higginbotham. This is the last known sighting as the project was not followed through by Council.
In the early 1990s, following bank scouring caused by flooding, the Council installed gabions above and over the old wharf and the drain, totally obscuring, if not destroying, the remains of both. In December 2011 a limited GPR survey was made in Thompson Square, by Cosmos Archaeology (as part of the E.I.S) within the upper and lower parkland areas. It identified the potential for intact lateral drains from the
central barrel drain built in 1815 and an unidentified domed object at the northern end of the reserve at a depth of 1.5 metres ( near the tent embassy).
The Legend:
There have been allegations of a cave or tunnels in Thompson Square. Illicit rum‐running was rife along the Hawkesbury in the early days and older residents recount that kegs of spirits were brought up from the river bank through a tunnel into an excavation in Thompson Square. Access to these “tunnels” is rumoured to be in the basements of the Pizza Parlour and The Macquarie Arms. Local historian Rex Stubbs carried out a spirited debunking of the myth. He noted that part of the original sewer was uncovered during roadwork in Bridge Street in the 1930s and that this helped to promote the local legend.
The Significance:
These beautifully constructed drains show evidence of Macquarie’s extraordinary vision for improving living conditions and good town planning. They also provided excellent evidence of 19th century construction techniques and examples of brick work locally made. Culturally, they provide links to Lachlan Macquarie, James McGrath and John Howe. Option One will destroy and remove the complex archaeological profile of these early works.
