Auckland is into the second week of its Heritage Festival now with plenty of events for enthusiasts of our built heritage. There is an overall theme of transportation in this year's festival but I noticed two events coming up of relevance to Bartley and Devonport researchers.
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| St Matthews in the City. Image Postcard Collection BFA |
Peter Reed, architect, leads an exploration of St Matthews in the City next Saturday 14 October. Edward Bartley was supervising architect for this 1905 landmark as part of his role as architect to the Anglican Diocese of Auckland.
Tour details here
Information on the construction of St Matthews here
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| Torpedo Bay 1879 Image APLSGGSC4-2979 |
For those whose Auckland roots lie in Devonport there is an opportunity to tour the earliest sites of commercial activity. Details of the Maritime self guided tours on all week are here and information on the pioneer boatbuilders here
Edward Bartley's first home on the North Shore was on the foreshore at Devonport. He was a neighbour to William Holmes whose house and family feature in the promotional material for this event. Edward's eldest son Arthur married William's neice Polly Holmes
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| Holmes family home and boatyard about 1880. Image APL SSGSC |
If you are going to Devonport by car please do visit O'Neill's Point cemetery and see Edward Bartley's grave restored. There are several other Bartley graves in the cemetery.
Judging by the response to our post Frank and Dorothy's project has inspired other families to identify and care for family plots. Well there is good news. It has never been easier.
Bartley Archive holds some information on family graves, and a few photographs of plots. Do get in touch at the start if you have Bartley Channel Islands links. We may be able to help if other researcher's contributions included burial records.
The first step in fresh research is to obtain an 'address' for the plot. Many cemeteries now have an online database available to search. For example Auckland Council has access for burials and cremations in the region on this page
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| Image BFA 2014 |
Most of the larger public cemeteries have maps online or available at the office for the second step -which is locating the plot itself. On the basis of past experience I would recommend a party of two or more people, good walking shoes, good humour and an openess to synchronicity. Keep your ancestor in mind and your camera in hand-some of these places are very beautiful landscapes too.
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| Purewa Cemetery, St John's Auckland. Image BFA 2012 |
