Ancient bones found under patio to be laid to rest

Ancient bones dug up by a couple during renovations are finally being laid to rest in a churchyard in Kent.

Ross and Clare Sledger, who own a pub in Wye near Ashford, made the discovery in 2019 while digging up their patio and quickly called the police.

The bones were later estimated to be about 1,000 years old.

The remains will be buried in the graveyard of St Gregory and St Martin Church in the village on Wednesday.

Reverend Ravi Holy, rector of the church, said he was shocked to hear about the discovery of the bones, but not as shocked as the Sledgers.

He told BBC South East: "Once we knew they were human remains, we decided to do something.

"We don't know who they are but they are still human beings and we want to treat them with the respect they deserve now."

He had never done such a service before, he added, and had contacted church authorities.

"The service will be short but we wanted to make a bit more of a thing of it so some of the local community will be coming along," he said.

"We will sing a song and bury them in the churchyard."

Maureen DeSaxe, archivist from the Wye Historical Society, said the area had been developed in the 1930s for housing and that a number of skeletons were found when they were digging.

"It wasn't a particular surprise when the bones were discovered, due to the history, but some people had forgotten about the site," she added.

"The vicar made the decision to bury them."

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