Unmarked graves found during excavation at Seaford church could date back to Victorian times, say archaeologists
Archaeologists have found several unmarked burials at a Seaford church that could date back to Victorian times.
The discovery was made during a planned archaeological excavation within the grounds of St Leonard’s Church in Church Street, the Diocese of Chichester has confirmed.
A Diocese of Chichester spokesperson said: “The excavation forms part of the preparatory work for a forthcoming building project that will deliver much-needed facilities for the local community.”
Chris Butler Archaeological Services (CBAS) is carrying out the excavation, working in consultation with the church, the Diocese of Chichester Buildings Team and local authorities.
CBAS senior project manager Dr. Jon Baczkowski said: “The CBAS team have been investigating a small area of the churchyard prior to an extension to the north vestry. The number and range of human burials encountered relates to at least 300 years of use in this part of the churchyard. The graves are unmarked and being on the north side of the church, traditionally seen as a less desirable part of the churchyard to be buried in, may relate to paupers’ graves dating from the 18th century until the 19th century. Once we finish recording the burials a report will follow, which will add to the history of the church, burial practices, and the local population.”
The Vicar of St Leonard’s, in the parish of Sutton with Seaford, Revd James Hollingsworth, said: “Some of the bones are likely to be from a Victorian paupers’ grave, though it is still too early to confirm. We are awaiting a full report from the archaeology team. The remains are being kept on sacred ground, within the church, and will be interred with prayer and due care once the archaeologists finish their work. We believe there are around 30 burials in this small area, probably dating from the Victorian period or earlier.”
The website for Seaford Parish Church, St Leonard’s and St Lukes, said St Leonard’s is ‘the oldest building in Seaford’ and ‘a beautiful ancient space for worship’. It is a grade 1 listed building.
The website said plans have been submitted for the church so it can become ‘the heart of our town’ by upgrading its facilities.
It said the only external change to the medieval church would to extend to the north side the small Victorian extension by 4.5m to accommodate accessible toilets. But it said the work would involve ‘digging into the church yard to a depth of about two metres to allow a level access from the Church to the proposed toilet facilities’. The website added: “This part of the church yard has no marked or recent graves but inevitably digging in such an ancient space will involve archaeological investigation.”
As well as the external change, the church said there are plans for a kitchen and a small café style seating area internally, as well as a smaller ‘glazed in meeting space’ in the side chapel.
Full size plans for the work are on display in the church.