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16
"The preparation of the Specification, and the settling of the requisite
arrangements, having delayed the matter until late in the Spring, the work
was not commenced until September, and occupied until Christmas last
The following is a statement of the works that have been performed The
public vault was cleared, leaving a space of six feet, from the ceiling to the
top of the coffins;—the remaining coffins were covered with earth two feet
thick, and upon this was spread a layer of charcoal, six inches thick — four
air flues made, leading from the upper part of the six-feet space into
four of the large air flues in the walls, so that any effluvia escaping
through the earth, and not absorbed by the charcoal, will ascend
to the roof of the church All the vaults in the thickness of the
north and south walls, and the vault in the east wall, have been
cleared, and thoroughly disinfected, the entrances bricked-up in cement,
and the exterior face of the brick-work well cemented The eastern
half of the crypt has been cleared of all the vaults and coffins, and
thoroughly disinfected; the old brick pavement removed, and the ground
levelled and covered with concrete six inches thick So with regard
to the vaults at the east end, and at the north-west corner, of the crypt;
the large vault beneath the steps at the west end, and the upper chamber
beneath the tower All the walls surrounding the remains of the dead
have been covered with Portland cement, and all the open portions
of the crypt and vaults, twice well lime-whited All the closed
window spaces that could be so treated, have been re-opened; the
thick wooden entrance-doors of the crypt replaced with light iron
gates, so as to permit thorough ventilation; and the old, useless drains,
have been taken up The works have been executed in the best
manner; and before the vaults were finally closed, they were inspected by
the Medical Officer of Health All the coffins, and the remains of the
dead, that were removed to effect these improvements, are deposited in
the crypt; some in the spaces on each side of the public vault; some in
the lower vaults at the east end, and in the large vault at the west
end beneath the tool-house — in the vault beneath the same, and
in the corridors leading therefrom In removing the coffins, every
care was taken to avoid any injury thereto; and the remains
found in the decayed and imperfect coffins, were placed in wooden
cases, provided for the purpose In the large vault, at the south-west
corner of the church, were found three ancient, British, stone coffins
These have been removed into the crypt, where they may be inspected
The other coffins were arranged in the vault, and covered with earth,
charcoal, and with concrete, and the entrances thereto built up
"It is computed that at least 150 cubic yards of clean earth, free from
lumps and animal deposits, and 150 bushels of charcoal, were used to cover
up the coffins beneath the church