Restoring history, brick-by-brick

ALTHOUGH the square brick grave of the Gilhooley family is the oldest monument in the Smythesdale Cemetery, it’s set to look better than ever.

On behalf of the Smythesdale Cemetery Trust, member Dennis Ross and his bricklayer grandson Jayden Ross have made it their work to restore the unique memorial in the non-denominational section of the grounds.

It is the resting place of Richard and Ellen Gilhooley, and their children, three-year-old Catherine, toddler Peter, and baby Peter William.

Mr Gilhooley, who died in 1897, was a one-time mayor of Smythesdale and a bricklayer who built the wall surrounding the grave, which dates to 1860; the year his first two children died just one month apart.

“It’s cool to be the person called upon to work on this,” Jayden Ross said.

“I’m a Smythesdale brickie working on another Smythesdale brickie’s work. It’s been a lot of fun, and something different, as I usually work on new builds.

“There’s not a particular bond in the brickwork, so you can tell it’s old. I’m trying to copy what’s already left there.”

The grave’s refurbishment has been funded by donations to the Smythesdale Cemetery Trust, as trustees have not been able to find any descendants of the family.

It has an original slate headstone which has been restored in kind by a local stonemason, and this will be re-installed soon.

Dennis Ross said the project is one of both restoration and rebuilding, as some sections are structurally sound, while others have crumbled.

“We’re reusing all the original bricks where possible, and with the headstone, I had to dig to find pieces, because the slate had spit off,” he said. “I found most of the letters.”

The Trust’s secretary Rosemary Angus said the Gilhooleys have the only exposed brick monument in the cemetery.