Samson's Cottage wall remains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Samson's Cottage wall remains |
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Samson's Cottage wall remains, 8 Kendall Lane, The Rocks, NSW. Foreground portion of the building on the right.
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| Location | 8 Kendall Lane, The Rocks, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1844 |
| Built for | William Samson |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Official name: Samson's Cottage (wall remains); Puppet Cottage (Samsons) | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 10 May 2002 |
| Reference no. | 1577 |
| Type | Shop |
| Category | Retail and Wholesale |
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Samson's Cottage wall remains is a very old building in The Rocks, a historic area in Sydney, Australia. It used to be a home but is now a shop. It is also known as Samson's Cottage (wall remains) or Puppet Cottage (Samsons).
This building was first built in 1844 for a man named William Samson. Today, it is owned by Property NSW, which is a part of the Government of New South Wales. Because of its history, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on May 10, 2002.
Contents
The Story of Samson's Cottage
How the Land Was Used
A long time ago, in 1790, the land where Samson's Cottage stands was planned to be part of the second stage of Sydney Hospital. Later, a man named William Balmain leased this land. By 1807, he gave the property back to the government.
In 1837, William Carr and George John Rogers became the owners of the land. Then, in 1838, Sir George Gipps, who was the Governor at the time, officially gave the land to them.
In 1839, Frederic Wright Unwin bought the property. He then sold a part of it to William Samson in 1843. William Samson worked as a stevedore, which means he helped load and unload ships.
Building the Cottage and Shop
William Samson finished building a two-storey house on the back of his land in 1844. This house had three rooms and was made of stone and brick. Its roof was covered with shingles, which are like wooden tiles.
In 1853, Samson built a small shop at the front of his property, facing George Street. This shop had three rooms and was made of wood and brick, also with a shingle roof. In 1858, people thought William and Martha Samson's cottage was quite "large."
Later, in 1882, Martha Samson sold the property. It was then sold again to Alexander William Cormack in the same year.
Changes Over Time
Between 1882 and 1883, the shop on George Street was taken down. In 1883, Mr. Cormack built a new, taller building. This new building had three floors with two shops facing George Street and rooms for rent upstairs. It was made of brick with an iron roof.
The southern wall of Samson's original cottage became part of a nearby building. This was a store and stable built for Joseph Raphael in 1853. The parts of the cottage walls that are still standing today show us how big the house used to be and what it was made from.
In 1991 and 1992, a new building was constructed on the site of Samson's Cottage. This new building used the remaining parts of the old house's walls. The new building looks similar to the original cottage from 1844. Inside, there's a special area where visitors can see the old south wall of the cottage. Before the new building was constructed, archaeologists dug up the site. They found old foundations and learned valuable information about the past.
Today, this building is used as The Rocks Discovery Museum.
What the Cottage Looks Like Now
The original two-storey cottage had walls made of stone and brick, and a shingle roof. Most of it was taken down in 1883. However, parts of the northern, western, and southern walls are still there. The southern wall of Samson's cottage was even used as part of Joseph Raphael's store and stable, built in 1853.
The cottage was rebuilt in 1991-1992 to look like its original form.
- Storeys: Two
- Front (Facade): Stone (from 1844) and Brick (from 1991)
- Side and Back Walls: Stone and brick (from 1844)
- Roof Covering: Shingle (from 1844) and Iron (around 1880)
Updates and Changes
- 1883: Part of the cottage was taken down.
- 1991-1992: The remaining parts of the old north, west, and south walls were included in a new building. A small terrace was built at the back. The courtyard area was also repaved and improved. The public toilets were also updated.
- 2005: The building was updated to become The Rocks Discovery Museum. A new doorway and walkway were added upstairs for easier access. A lift was also put in, and a loft area was built for research.
Why Samson's Cottage is Important
Samson's Cottage (wall remains) and its land are very important for their history and scientific value in New South Wales. They also add to the importance of The Rocks area itself, which is a significant heritage site.
The remaining walls clearly show how the site and nearby properties developed over time. They give us a great look at the size, shape, color, and materials used in the old building. This site helps us understand how The Rocks and Sydney changed from a residential area to a place with shops and industries. The backyard area still shows how the land was divided up in the 1840s.
The remaining walls clearly show the size and materials of William Samson's "large" two-storey home from 1844. You can still see how tall the building was, how steep its roof was, and what materials were used. The southern wall, which was built into a coach house, is important because it shows where the fireplace was. It also shows how the building was extended later. The stone wall facing Kendall Lane and the clear outline of the south wall add to the look of the lane today.
The remains of the cottage also show how people used to build shared walls between buildings. For example, the southern and northern walls of Samson's cottage were built into the Coach house and Ambulance station. This gives us a clear example of how houses were built back then.
Samson's Cottage wall remains was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on May 10, 2002, because it met several important criteria:
- It shows the history of New South Wales: The backyard shows how land was divided in the 1840s. It's an example of how an early home was built in an area that later became a place for shops and industries.
- It shows great design or building skills: The remaining walls clearly show the size and materials of William Samson's "large" two-storey home from 1844. You can see the height of the building, the steep roof, and the materials used. The southern wall, built into the Coach house, shows where the fireplace was. The stone wall and the outline of the south wall add to the look of Kendall Lane.
- It has a special connection to a community or group: It's an example of a home built behind a commercial block, with a single-storey shop at the front from 1853.
- It can teach us more about history: The remains of the cottage show how people used to build shared walls. This includes how the southern and northern walls of Samson's cottage were built into the Coach house and Ambulance station. It's a good example of how homes were typically built.
