Chance find by G. K. Mitchell, Wix, Tendring, 1961 - EEX62014

Late in October, 1961, Mr. G. K. Mitchell, of Wix Abbey, reported to the Colchester and Essex Museum the discovery of a stone coffin, in a field to the east of the Church of St. Mary, Wix. The field, during living memory, had always been pasture with a very hummocky surface and a gradual slope down to the east. To level this, Mr. Mitchell had bulldozed one to three feet of the surface from that part of the field near the western boundary-the churchyard fence, and spread it over the eastern portion of the field. During this work the broken portions of a coffin lid were discovered. The field was later deep-ploughed and this operation revealed a stone coffin, and, upon investigation, many wall foundations were seen in the area. Excavation (detailed in EEX10776) followed.