Site Event/Activity record ECH5308 - Discovery of oak coffins at St Mary's Churchyard in 1924

In January 1924, during the cutting of a trench for water mains in Churchyardside, workmen discovered six skulls, portions of a coffin and a whole coffin containing a ‘perfect skeleton’. The coffin was fashioned from a hollowed out oak truck with an oak plank for a lid. The side of the coffin tapered at the foot and there was a circular cavity for the head. The coffin contained the body of a male with a pointed three foot hazel stick either side of the body, which appeared to have been wrapped in a shroud. In addition wooden and ceramic water pipes were found. The former attributed to works by William Sands in 1584.