Brick drains dating to 1814 uncovered in Windsor
TWO sections of brick barrel drain have been uncovered during the excavation work at the historic Thompson Square in Windsor, and now residents want assurances these precious relics of the past will be preserved.
Rouse Hill
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TWO sections of brick barrel drain have been uncovered during the excavation work at the historic Thompson Square in Windsor, and now residents want assurances that these precious relics of the past will be preserved.
Preliminary work is being carried by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) in Thompson Square, one of the oldest town squares in Australia in preparation for the construction of the new Windsor Bridge.
RMS said professional archaeologists engaged by them recently uncovered two sections of box drains near Thompson Square but initially played down the significance of the find when asked by the Times if they were brick barrel drains.
“Archaeologists have advised they are not brick barrel drains as originally thought," a RMS spokesman told the Times on December 1.
However, they changed their minds after finding more evidence of these drains, saying on December 7: “The archaeologists exposed a rounded brick feature, covered in shell mortar, in a hand-excavated test pit at a depth of approximately 2m below the former ground surface, as part of the salvage work taking place on-site.
“At this stage, a 500x500mm section has been exposed, and the archaeologists are excavating another hand-dug test pit further downslope to determine more information about the find.
“It appears consistent with the top of a brick barrel drain, however it will require further testing and study by the experts on-site.
“Other rectangular structures, which appear at this early stage to be block drains, were also uncovered in the week prior.
“Once we have further details regarding the findings, we will be providing a more comprehensive update to the community.”
The new bridge is vehemently opposed by Hawkesbury Council and Community Action for Windsor Bridge (CAWB) has been occupying Thompson Square since July 21, 2013 in protest.
CAWB, made up of volunteers, won 21st National Trust Heritage Awards, in community advocacy division for their actions in 2015.
Both organisations fear the new bridge — which will replace the present one opened in 1874 — will destroy the heritage of Thompson Square and argue that a bypass will sort out all the traffic congestion.
Community Action for Windsor Bridge (CAW), the award-winning group opposed to the
“The Thompson Square barrel drains are incredibly important,’ CAWB spokeswoman Kathleen Mackanees said.
“We believe they are nationally significant.
“Our research indicates they are the oldest examples of public infrastructure of their kind in Australia.
“While acknowledging the existence of other such drains and the possibility there may be older ones, the only earlier brick barrel drains we’re been able to identify were part of First Government House in Sydney and therefore of a domestic nature.
200 YEAR OLD EXCAVATED PUB IN PARRAMATTA
“The Thompson Square drains were commissioned by Governor Lachlan Macquarie and built by Howe and McGrath circa 1814-15.
“Up until relatively recently RMS archaeologists were advising they were unable to find this is important heritage asset.
“This “loss” was extremely surprisingly given previous archaeological surveys had identified their existence and location.”
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