Beauty in Stone (or cast iron!)
Welcome to 2023 and I'm happy to have you along with me on a journey through Rookwood. I have a number of stories to share as the year progresses. For this post I am veering in a slightly different direction. During Victorian and Edwardian times in particular, stonemasons issued books that detailed the various types of headstones that could be made and purchased, a bit of a production line of design. We see many similar headstones throughout cemeteries of this time and this practice still continues. Wandering around the older parts of Rookwood, there are many examples of very unique and beautifully carved headstones and monuments, and it is a few of these that I want to share with you today. JOHN WILLIAM WOOD John William was born in 1811, the son of John Wood, tailor, and his wife Elizabeth. John senior was convicted of forgery and uttering and was sentenced for life, arriving here in 1813. He received a pardon in 1847 whilst residing in Parramatta and conducted a successfu...