History – Hidden treasures

Under the streets of Warkworth there are hidden treasures, as discovered by the Watercare workers as they have been laying the new pipeline this year. The first discovery was at the beginning of Elizabeth Street, opposite the old Courthouse building in February – a ceramic inkpot, buried only about 100mm deep with some bits of rubbish.

These were known as penny inkwells, as they cost one penny to buy, and were used for dipping pens and often thrown away after use. The beginnings of our throwaway society! These pots were manufactured from around 1880 to 1910. They were ceramic and salt-glazed, a process using common salt thrown into the kiln. However, this produced noxious gases and the process ceased. This same process was used in the creation of the old clay sewage pipes – seems appropriate somehow. One wonders if this particular pot was used at the Courthouse to write up someone’s misdemeanours.

A few months later, at the other end of Elizabeth Street, where it joins Queen Street, some more treasures were unearthed. Buried between 400mm and 800mm a number of horseshoes were found. Long before the present bridge was built, there was a stagecoach terminus-cum-stables at this corner. From 1886 onwards, we find there was a stagecoach service, run by Thomas Butler, from Devonport, along the East Coast Road to Warkworth. This would depart Devonport at 8am arriving in Warkworth around 4pm, depending on the state of the unsealed road, with the return trip heading off the following morning. Opposite the terminus was Tom Walker’s saddlery and across the road, a blacksmith. Any of these could have contributed a horseshoe or two.

Walter Ramsbottom, in a coach owned by Paterson & Co, also used the terminus. He would take the mail and up to five passengers from this terminus on to Wellsford on a Friday. This would take two-and-a-half hours in summer and up to four hours in winter. By 1905, the new railway had reached Kaipara Flats. At different times, several people ran a coach from the same terminus to the station, including Ray Civil and Lewis and Tommy Ramsbottom.

Tommy was apparently quite a character and by all accounts had a great sense of humour. He always kept his coach and horses immaculate, which must have been quite a challenge with the state of the roads. Service was his motto. Once the railway arrived in Wellsford, in 1909, the coach run north was no longer necessary. Even as late as 1923, the steamer was often the preferred way of getting to Auckland due to the state of the roads.

A big thank you to the Watercare workers for saving these items and making sure that they got to Warkworth Museum.