Dripstones
DR VARMAN'S
NORFOLK ISLAND CONVICT PERIOD STONE ARTEFACTS
Dripstones
Dripstones were made from Massive Calcarenite, a very porous stone superficially resembling Sydney sandstone. These were made from about the 1790s to the 1830s or 40s and generally exported. The Pitcairners made some small roughish ones during the early years. Used for filtering drinking water: muddy water filters out cristal clear (but muddy water does tend to block up the spaces between the sand grains). Unfortunately germs can't be filtered out, but they didn't know that then! Norfolk dripstones have been found in shipwrecks and several examples may be seen in historic properties such as Elizabeth Farm and Hambledon Cottage, both at Parramatta. The example on the left may be a very early, the one on the right appears to date between the 1820s and 1840s.
Drainstone
These are fairly common on Norfolk. Most appeared to have been made during the 1830s and 1840s. Where seen in situ, square-lined drains may be found underneath. Several of such drains are still in working order at Kingston. This example is to be found at The Arches at Longridge.
A convict period foot scraper (left), 1830s or 1840s. Several are to be found on Norfolk still in working order (All Saints, Government House for example). They were usually placed near the front and back door. Later grindstone.
Sundial base
There were at least three on Norfolk during the convict period; one at Longridge, one at the New Military Barracks (set into the stone work on top of the south-east turret) and one at Government House (?). A sundial top was found as part of the foundation stones of an early Pitcairner House belonging to Shunna Quintal.
Holy Water Font?
Found some many years ago in Slaughter Bay. The front of the half bowl has broken off and the the broken edges worn by the sea. It may have been deliberately discarded as 'Popery' when the Catholic chapel was dismantled. Luckily, the baptismal font was probably saved and is thought to be the one in All Saints' Church at Kingston.
What's
this?
I have seen similar stones but never in situ. They may have been used for holding metal stays?