Medieval churchyard, All Saints' Church, Purleigh (EHER 81718)

A churchyard for All Saint's parish church (EHER 38544). A watching brief in 2002 recorded fifteen 18th or 19th century inhumation burials, all aligned west-east. The majority of the graves had traces of coffins and/or coffin nails and fittings, in variable states of preservation. When the churchyard became full, a new one was opened to the north, see EHER 47773.

August-September 2002. Watching brief. Monitoring and recording during groundworks for the new extension and septic tank revealed a total of fifteen inhumations (13 adults, 3 infants) all aligned west-east. The majority of the graves had traces of coffins and/or coffin nails and fittings, in variable states of preservation. In addition a substantial quantity of disarticulated human bone was recovered as well as nails and fittings from previously disturbed coffined burials within the subsoil/graveyard soil of the churchyard. It is probable that the graves date from either the 18th or 19th centuries. No evidence for any earlier church structures was revealed. <1> Note: when the churchyard became full, a new one was opened to the north, see EHER 47773.