Penal Time Tuesday 8th August 2017

A wet and windy night which seems to have rearranged the deckchairs on the deck of the unit next to us. The rest of the day is cloudy and windy, but no rain.
We have a voucher for a display at the Norfolk Island Travel centre that we booked with which has great photos and storyboards about the products of Norfolk - milling of the Norfolk Pine (because the branches come off in a rosette pattern this forms weak points which meant that Cook's hopes that they could be used for ship's spars were dashed);tourism especially after the advent of the airport built during WW2;Kentia Palms for decorative use; flax weaving - although not with the original flax which Cook thought would be good for sails and linen.
We also had a voucher for a CD called "Voices from The Past" where you drive around various points listening to the CD. While the letters and diary entries were very interesting we failed to match up the stopping points which was very frustrating, but led us to explore the Sou-West corner of the island.
After lunch back at the apartment and then we head out for a dual tour (we had vouchers) of Life as a Convict and Pitcairn Pioneers.

Entrance to the gaol - it would have had thick wooden doors.

The pentagonal layout - watch for the plan on Thursday's blog. It had 5 wings.

 We thought we probably knew most of the history by now but our driver/tourguide Dave was so knowledgeable as we toured the "New Gaol" we learned a lot. The first gaol was built of timber in the 1780's but burned when they decided to leave the island.

This is a cell - to be shared by 2 prisoners.

 Now this amazed us - the complex sewerage system. this is the drain into which the effluent flowed and then down to the sea.

This is Dave on top of one of the latrine seats - carefully rounded so as not to scratch the skin

On the left of this gate were some steps  which prisoners mounted to the gallows and were hanged. All prisoners here were multiple offenders but sometimes the crimes were very petty - eg Stole a rabbit. Stole 2 slices of bread

 Conditions were harsh and disciplined as evidenced by the reaction of those prisoners who mutinied. Those that were to be hanged were joyous at their blessed release, but those who were spared death, wept.

Looking out to Phillip Island

This is a lime pit where the coral was burned to form a white powder suitable as a mortar for the brick buildings

This is the blacksmiths furnace

The Royal Engineers made sure that their building was a a little bit grander on the verandah.

A Memorial to the first Penal Colony which was then disbanded.

The next part of the tour was looking at the houses on Quality Street. Now they are being conserved - but not restored. so for example these houses will not have their verandas restored.

There were many fireplaces in the houses but this one is in the kitchen....

and the heat from the fire was ducted through to the oven

Many years after the Pitcairners took up residence in Norfolk they were told that the houses they thought they were gifted they would now have to pay rent on. This forced them to rebuild on their 50 acre blocks, but one or two of the Quality Row houses were burned out by the disgruntled "tenants"

We were then taken to one of the blocks of 50 acres that Queen Victoria had given them and where they built timber houses - although they were able to take some of the rocks from the prison which was now abandoned.

Same design as the Quality Row houses with 2 windows either side of the door.

We were told not to go close to the building as in recent times some people had tried to look inside and been hit by falling timber. Some of the deafer members of the tour party got perilously close.

The timbers are Norfolk Pine but it is not a very hard wood and the building is decaying fast.

The roof is set up for shingles, but had corrugated  iron put over it as the Norfolk Pine shingles didn't last all that long. There is still a shingle maker on the island, but he mainly makes casurina shingles now as they last twice as long

I think the greenery is holding the whole building up

Dodged our way through the cows to town and that evening we went to a welcome dinner (yes, we had a voucher) put on by the travel firms. The coconut bread was a standout.