Sepulchral Pyramids.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 16th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Sepulchral Pyramids.
I EDWARD MILTON SMALL of No. 129 High Street New Brompton in the
County of Kent Geutleinan do hereby declare the nature of my invention for the
burial of the dead in concrete pyramids to be as follows:-
If made 100 yards square at the base a pyramid can hold in the first layer
beneath the surface 7,500 full sized coffins exclusive of infants coffins which, if
placed in the spaces between the larger coffins, would reduce the quantity of
concrete needed and considerably increase the number accommodated.
For every additional 18 inches in depth the foundation of the pyramid will
accommodate another 7,500 full sized coffins, so that if the excavation is made
18 feet deep the number of full sized coffins (exclusive of infants) which might be
buried in the foundation alone would number 90,000.
For the purpose of strengthening the structure the layers of coffins should be
alternately headed north to south & east to west.
The foundation would be conveniently made by excavating a width of seven or
eight feet and filling in with coffins and concrete till the surface was reached and
then commencing again in like manner till the whole of the base of the pyramid
was levelled and covered in with a layer of concrete three inches thick and having
a thickness of eighteen inches at each outer edge. Another plan would be to rail
in and excavate the whole of the foundation space and complete the layers one at a
time.
In raising each step of the pyramid the outer line of coffins should be placed
three feet from the edge of the step below and filled in with concrete having a
covering of three inches and an outer edge of eighteen inches of solid concrete and
leaving eighteen inches space for a step to the next layer.
The steps should be eighteen inches high to allow of one layer of coffins each
but they may be made sufficiently high to take three layers, in which case a saving
of space will occur but a temporary staircase would have to be erected for the
accommodation of mourners desirous of mounting to the top step in order to see
their friends coffins placed in their final position. It however would be found more
convenient to have steps of only eighteen inches high.
The last coffin being placed upon the summit the coffins of infants might be
placed upon the steps which should then be filled in with concrete from edge to
edge. In so doing, by beginning at the top no scaffolding would be required.
As each step was finished, a final coating of cement should be placed over all to
render the building weatherproof.
As the coffins within the pyramid decayed, the concrete would remain like a huge
honeycomb.
In cases where the pyramid is considered undesirable the foundation thereof need
only be used and covered in with a layer of earth.
Dated this 16th day of March 1894.

page_text: Sepulchral Pyramids.
I EDWARD MILTON SMALL of No. 129 High Street New Brompton in the
County of Kent Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
'
If made 100 yards square at the base a pyramid can hold in the first layer
beneath the surface 7,500 full sized coffins exclusive of infants coffins which, if
placed in the spaces between the larger coffins, would reduce the quantity of
concrete needed and considerably increase the number accommodated.
For every additional 18 inches in depth the foundation of the pyramid will
accommodate another 7,500 full sized coffins; so that if the excavation is made
18 feet deep the number of full sized coffins (exclusive of infants) which might be
buried in the foundation alone would number 90,000.
For the purpose of strengthening the structure the layers of coffins should be
alternately headed north to south and east to west.
The foundation would be conveniently made by excavating a width of seven or
eight feet and filling in with coffins and concrete till the surface was reached and
then commencing again in like manner till the whole of the base of the pyramid
was levelled and covered in with a layer of concrete three inches thick and having
a thickness of eighteen inches at each outer edge. Another plan would be to rail
in and excavate the whole of the foundation space and complete the layers one at a
time.
In raising each step of the pyramid the outer line of coffins should be placed
three feet from the edge of the step below and filled in with concrete having a
covering of three inches and an outer edge of eighteen inches of solid concrete and
leaving eighteen inches space for a step to the next layer.
The steps should be eighteen inches high to allow of one layer of coffins each,
but they may be made sufficiently high to take three layers, in which case a saving
of space will occur but a temporary staircase would have to be erected for the
accommodation of mourners desirous of mounting to the top step in order to see
their friends' coffins placed in their final position.
It however would be found more convenient to have steps of only eighteen inches
high.
The last coffin being placed upon the summit the coffins of infants might be
placed upon the steps which should then be filled in with concrete from edge to
edge. In so doing, by beginning at the top no scaffolding would be required.
As each step was finished, a final coating of cement should be placed over all to
render the building weatherproof.
As the coffins within the pyramid decayed, the concrete would remain like a huge
honeycomb.
In cases where the pyramid is considered undesirable the foundation thereof
need only be used and covered in with a layer of earth and converted into a
garden.
Another mode would be to continue the foundation a few feet above the ground,
cover in with mould and turf it over.
Much valuable space might be acquired by dispensing with the steps all round
the pyramid and having only one wide stairway formed by the steps at the most
convenient portion of the structure. By these means the work of completion could
be proceeded with as the structure progressed and the outside concrete would need
to be no more than six inches thick."
If the concrete for the outer sides were carefully made with fine material the
necessity for a coating of cement might possibly disappear and on the apex of the

page_text: pyramid being reached the portion previously left for steps might be filled in with
small coffins and concrete and the whole work finished.
Taking the foundations to a depth of thirty feet and thus allowing twenty layers.
of coffins below the ground I estimate the number of bodies which could be buried
in a pyramid 300 feet square at the base, at 795,616 while those accommodated in
the same space of ground by the usual method would be only 41,250.
The actual process herein before described is believed by me to be new and
original and is in my opinion absolutely necessary to meet the requirements of the
increased population, the difficulties of limited burial space and the sanitary
conditions and regulations imposed and insisted upon by the Local Government.
Board.
The said process is more distinctly delineated. described, enlarged upon and set.
forth in the ten drawings hereunto annexed that is to say
Two of the various modes of placing coffins prior to imbedding them in concrete.
are shewn in Sketches Nos. 1 and 2.
The mode of placing the coffins in tiers alternately heading east and west and
north and south and raising them above the ground is shewn in Sketch No. 3.
Two modes of dealing with imbedded coffins raised above the ground are shewn
in Sketches Nos. 4 and 5.
The mode of constructing a sepulchral pyramid, of recording the names of the
dead therein interred, and of utilizing the steps of a completed pyramid prior to.
finally covering them with concrete and coating the whole with cement is shewn in
Sketch No. 6.
The mode of enlarging a completed pyramid is shewn in Sketch No. 7.
One of the various modes of placing coffins, or if found practicable, of leaving.
spaces to receive coffins (which spaces might be purchased and reserved) so that.
each coffin might have a marble, granite, slate or stone slab affixed to the coucrete-
immediately covering it; and in so doing galleries or passages would be constructed
within the pyramid and its foundation, each floor heading alternately east to west.
and north to south is shewn in Sketch No. 8.
A mode of placing in such galleries a brass plate or slab upon the concrete.
immediately covering each coffin as mentioned in the last paragraph is shewn in.
Sketch No. 9.
A mode of carrying the structure to a great height having a roadway or lift.
running around its outer side and giving access to the before mentioned galleries or
passages is shewn in Sketch No. 10.
•
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The construction of pyramids, mounds, towers and catacombs for the disposing
of corpses by means of concrete as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the ten.
accompanying drawings.
E. MILTON SMALL.