How has Shortland Cemetery stood the test of time?
Well, sadly a walk around the lower extension off Danby Street is not a pleasant one.
The aerial below (via Google maps) gives the appearance of order and a well kept cemetery. But! Do you see the trees? They regularly break, leaving twigs to major branches over graves, and lets not start on the leaf fall! Leaves build up on the graves, and soon become a medium for weed growth.
At present the lower section of the cemetery is dry, normally in winter the ground is sodden and boggy.
What has this meant to the overall state of the graves?
Large numbers of graves are overgrown, covered with leaves and branches. Headstones have broken, toppled over, lettering lost / taken. The ground subsides and moves, resulting in broken masonry.
Graves at Shortland cemetery.
While the images above are depressing (there are many in a worse state), special thanks to descendants and a few helpers who are clearing some of the graves. Your work has not gone unnoticed - thank-you for caring for our old Thamesites!
I hope to share some news in the near future about how more folk can help, to restore some dignity to this old cemetery.
View from the top of Shortland Cemetery 1910s. The cemetery and graves intact.
Although it appears even then the trees are causing problems!
A special grave - Then & Now
The style of headstone and grave surround at Shortland varies from simple to ornate. One can only imagine what the plot looked like in the earlier days. By chance today I stumbled across an old grave photo from 1876 - the grave of Margaret Edith Lush.
"Margaret Edith was born in 1859 and was the daughter of the Anglican minister Vicesimus Lush and his wife Blanche. Tragically, Margaret Edith died from Scarlet Fever on 22 April 1876. While the death of a child was not unusual during the Victorian era, this does not mean that the loss was not felt greatly by parents and family members. In his journal, Margaret Edith’s father wrote openly of his grief as he struggled to come to terms with the loss of his daughter, ‘”The child is not dead but sleepth” This has been the burden of my thought ever since 9 oclock when my dear dear dearest Edith Fell asleep.’"
Changes have been made to the plot, with a concrete surround placed around the grave and a plaque for another person placed within the plot surround.
The large cross that stood above the inscription base, has been broken over time and now lies flat at the base of the original structure. A good and safe solution!
Left: 1876 view of Edith Lush's grave at Shortland Cemetery.
Photo Source: Collection of Ewelme Cottage, Heritage New Zealand Historic Pouhere Taonga
Right: 2019 view of Edith Lush's Grave.
Photo: Graeme Pearce / Findagrave
Shortland Cemetery Friends
While the dream is to have a 'Friends of Shortland Cemetery' Group up and running, there were several other species happily enjoying the peace of the cemetery grounds today. Large groups of pigeons were busy looking for food, but the stars of the show were the Fantails / pīwakawaka, busily hopping from one grave to another.
The Fantail sits on the headstone of John Lange (Past Prime Minister David Lange's grandfather).
Take the Challenge
Take a break and visit one of Thames' historic cemeteries, the view from all three is spectacular.
