The second of a series of lectures ... on the actual condition of the metropolitan grave-yards / [George Alfred Walker].

  • George Alfred Walker
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The second of a series of lectures ... on the actual condition of the metropolitan grave-yards / [George Alfred Walker]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    much “ rubbish,” as be called it, which was shot at the foot of Waterloo Bridge. The rubbish (among which, he says, was a human hand as perfect as his own, and which did not appear to have been buried a month,) consisted of human bodies in a state of putrefaction. This rubbish assisted to fill up inequalities where “rubbish might be shot.” Mr. Burn says that, to him, the work wTas most disgusting and repulsive. “ He never saw such a sight, with coffins broken up.” When questioned touching the sewer, Mr. Burn replied, “ I have no doubt whatever that bodies have been slipped down the sewer.” Another witness, Mr. George Whittaker, undertaker, was examined by the Parliamentary Committee as to the condition and “management” of this same Enon Chapel. I shall, with your permission, read a portion of Mr. Whittaker’s evidence— “ I have seen coffins broken in the graves, and shovelled away to make room for fresh comers. “ And the bodies cut to pieces ?—Decidedly so. “ How do you mean ?—Cut with the spade. “ Were those very old coffins, or had they been placed in the grave only a short time ?—I have seen both old and nearly new coffins destroyed. “ To make room in the grave-yard?—In the places where funerals were to take place. “ Has this often occurred ?—Yes, it is a case of almost every-day occurrence. “ To what grave-yards are you particularly alluding?—The one I particularly allude to, is that of Enon Chapel. “ You mean the vault under Enon Chapel?—Yes ; it is more like a cellar. “ Have the kindness to describe to the Committee the state of that vault ?—It is dreadfully full. On one occasion when I went there, a covered coffin was brought up to the surface ; the body seemed as though it had been scarcely buried a week ; the hair was on the head ; the flesh was fresh, and the inside of the coffin was strewed with quick-lime apparently ; it looked like white dust. “ Colonel Acton.] When was that?—Some time ago. “ Can you mention the year ?—It is within these two years. “ Chairman.'] It has been stated by a former witness that 12,000 people were buried there in a space not above 59 feet by 29 feet; do you confirm that evidence, or do you dispute it ?—I should consider that there had been fully that amount. , “ How do you account for so many bodies being placed in so small a space ?—• I cannot account for it.*” You thus perceive that the “ management” of Enon Chapel receptacle chiefly consisted in the simple process of breaking up the coffins, the application of quick-lime to hasten the destruction of the bodies, and the carting them off by wholesale to the nearest available spot of ground. But these facilities did not keep pace with the cupidity of this “ manager.” He seemed to be desirous of saving the cost of carting away the human “rubbish” even at the charge of