Four 18th Century Events Involving Wine Cellars

“In June 1729, another Roman altar, or rather the fragments of one, was found in digging a vault for a wine cellar for one Mr. Dyson, in Watergate, in Chester.” [1]

Amor. Christian Bernhar Rode. 1771. #1854,1020.559. The British Museum.

“Friday, August, 27. The Labourers employ’d in digging a Wine Vault for Mr. Truby a Vintner in St Paul’s Church Yard, dug up ten human Sculls, the Church Yard belonging to St Gregory’s extending formerly that way.” [2]

The Last Drop. Matthew Darly, British, 1778. #1865,0610.1125. The British Museum.

“Died,… At Kentish-town, aged 81, John Little, Esq. of a paralitic, in consequence of having been carried from a sick bed to his wine-cellar, whither he would not trust his servant with the keys.  His brother, to whom he would not give a shilling, has succeeded to an estate of two thousand pounds per ann. And thirty-six thousand pouds in the funds.”[3]

One Too Many. By John Hassell. Published by William Holland. 1794. #2001,0520.17. The British Museum.

“Plaintiff prescribes for a way through a passage to her room; defendant left a wine vault open, plaintiff fell down and hurt himself. For digging a cellar to near to the foundation of a plaintiff’s house, that part of it foundered and fell in.” [4]

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[1] A Description of England and Wales, Vol. II. London. 1769. URL:  http://books.google.com/books?id=qG9bAAAAQAAJ&pg=PP7#v=onepage&q&f=false
[2] Gentleman’s Magazine and Historical Review. August 1731. URL: http://books.google.com/books?id=_084AAAAYAAJ&pg=PR4#v=onepage&q&f=false
[3] The Monthly Mirror. London. June 1798. URL: http://books.google.com/books?id=1ssPAAAAQAAJ&pg=PP5#v=onepage&q&f=false
[4] Wentworth, John. A Complete System of Pleading. Vol 8. London 1798. URL: http://books.google.com/books?id=Bk40AAAAIAAJ&pg=PP9#v=onepage&q&f=false