Book hidden in fireplace returned to Australian library 150 years overdue
It is thought an apprentice stonemason who worked on the Houses of Parliament in London borrowed it.
A book that was borrowed from an Australian library approximately 150 years ago has finally been returned, with its original borrower believed to be a former apprentice stonemason who contributed to the construction of the Houses of Parliament in London.
The volume, titled "Antiquities of Athens," was checked out from a local library in Kiama, a coastal town situated about 120km (75 miles) south of Sydney, sometime in the mid-1870s. This book, which focuses on classical Greek architecture, remained concealed for decades within a tea chest, hidden behind a boarded-up fireplace, until a family member recently unearthed it.
Ross Simmons, 77, speculates that his great-grandfather, John Simmons, may have borrowed the book to aid his professional development. John Simmons worked as an apprentice stonemason in Westminster during the mid-1800s before establishing himself as an architect in Australia. The book, though slightly water-damaged, was otherwise in good condition.
Ross Simmons, who describes himself as a family history enthusiast, noted that his great-grandfather pursued studies in London between 1839 and 1844. "Following his studies in London, he was apprenticed to other stonemasons to assist in the building of the Houses of Parliament," Simmons explained.
In 1857, at the age of 27, John Simmons immigrated from the UK to Australia. He initially resided in the Sydney suburb of Newtown before relocating to Kiama after overseeing the construction of a sandstone church in the seaside community.
"He had quite an interest in architecture, construction, and building," Simmons remarked, suggesting that the overdue book "probably sat on a shelf at his house" and served as a reference. The book, along with other family documents, eventually found its way into a tea chest, which was then placed inside a fireplace that had been sealed off.
The fireplace where the book was discovered had been closed up for decades. Approximately 30 years ago, during renovations, the tea chest was uncovered, and the books, including the long-overdue one, were entrusted to Ross Simmons for safekeeping. However, it was only about two weeks ago that he examined some of the books more closely.
"I looked inside the front cover and, lo and behold, on the second page there was a Kiama Library stamp," Simmons recounted, noting that the library's borrowing regulations were also detailed on the inside cover. For instance, library members were typically limited to borrowing one book at a time, unless it could be demonstrated that six individuals in the same household were literate, in which case three books could be loaned out. Intoxicated individuals were prohibited from borrowing, and members returning books past their due date faced a fine of three pence for each week of delay.
Kiama Library staff calculated that the accumulated fine would amount to £97, which, adjusted for inflation, would be AU$28,000 ($20,000; £15,000) in today's currency. Fortunately for the Simmons family, the fine has been waived.
Michelle Hudson, the Kiama Council libraries manager, stated that the unusual discovery has garnered considerable interest. "People have travelled 40 minutes away to come and actually hold the book... it's a beautiful little book and it's got an amazing story to tell," she said.
Hudson described the cloth-bound volume as having some water damage but otherwise being in good condition. "It does have beautiful illustrations in it and some pages that fold out to show you they were using exact measurements of some of the monuments in Greece." She added that in 1872, the council received a £200 grant to establish the town's library, which initially held fewer than 1,000 books, with the overdue book being marked as number 506.
The book, published in 1858, features fold-out illustrations of Greek monuments. Hudson noted that it is impossible to determine precisely who borrowed the book or when, as the library's borrowing records from that period have since been lost.
However, the book is no longer available for borrowing, having been added to the library's collection of special items, which can be viewed upon request. "It won't be able to go out again... we don't want to wait another 150 years for it to come back," Hudson quipped.
Regarding the book's significantly delayed return, Ross Simmons expressed his belief that his great-grandfather would be pleased with the final chapter of its journey. "I think he'd be happy to see the book returned and he'd probably have a bit of a laugh about it." The library from which the book was borrowed was housed in the building shown from 1872 to 1890.