Family’s shock after builders doing their extension dig up bones from two SKELETONS in back garden that ‘used to be an Anglo-Saxon burial ground’

• Builder found the human remains beneath village micropub in Wye, Kent 
• Local historians believe property could be built on a medieval Saxon burial site
• Humans bones were found at the same site when it was first built on in 1930 

Builders carrying out an extension on a family’s property have dug up the bones of two human skeletons. 

Mother-of-two Claire Sedger, who runs the Sawyers micropub in the village of Wye, Kent, was left speechless when builders found the remains beneath the pavement as they carried out work.

Historians believe the property may be sitting on top of a Roman site which later became an Anglo-Saxon burial ground.  

Around seven police and forensic vehicles showed up at the house and officers spent two days investigating the remains. 

Builders dug up the bones of two human skeletons as they prepared to construct the extension 

Mrs Sedger, who has lived in the home for three years, said: ‘We are trying to put an extension in, the builder was digging out the pavement when he found a bone.

‘We took the bones to the doctors’ surgery as the builder’s sister works there. They said that they were human.

‘I thought it belonged to an animal at first but when I found out it wasn’t I started to freak out. 

‘Police have told us if we find anymore to bag them up and contact them. The local vicar has been contacted and once the bones are carbonated they will be released to him and given a decent burial.

‘On Saturday afternoon the house got turned into a crime scene. We had a guard overnight to protect the site. There was total disbelief from people living nearby.’

Experts are working to establish the age of the bones, which officers say could take several weeks.

Archivist Maureen de Saxe, from the Wye Historical Society, suggested the site could have been both Anglo-Saxon and Roman. 

Mother-of-two Claire Sedger, who runs the Sawyers micropub in the village of Wye, Kent, was left speechless when builders found the remains

Historians believe the property may be sitting on top of a Roman site which later became an Anglo-Saxon burial ground

She said: ‘The houses are built on a steep hill on the north of Bridge Street which is called Bolt Hill. The name suggests it was a Saxon settlement at some time.

‘The site is traditionally thought to have been the site of the early Saxon church, although there is no actual confirmation.’

Mrs de Saxe said human remains have been found on the site before.

She added: ‘The site remained undeveloped until 1930s when the present houses were built. When they were digging the foundations they came across numerous skeletons in a very good state of preservation.

‘The feet were pointing towards the east which suggests it was a Christian burial ground.

‘Eventually authorities were called in and the bodies were taken away to be reburied. There’s a long history of bodies being buried on that site. We think also that it was probably a Roman site.

‘Burials may have been going on at this site for a considerable amount of time. There’s speculation, but I believe it’s a Saxon medieval burial ground.’ 

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