Lost Souls: Uncovering the Unmarked Burial Ground Near Tone Vale Hospital
An unmarked site along Dean Road in Cotford St Luke may hold the forgotten patients of Somerset’s former psychiatric hospital
Last updated 17th Oct 2025
In the small village of Cotford St Luke, just outside Taunton, lies an unmarked burial ground along Dean Road. The site is reportedly associated with Tone Vale Hospital, which housed psychiatric patients, though the exact number of burials remains unknown. Across the UK, thousands of former asylum patients were buried anonymously on land that is often neglected or repurposed.
The discovery comes as a national petition has been launched calling for a memorial to honour the estimated quarter of a million former mental health patients buried in unmarked or neglected graves across the UK. The campaign, inspired by Bauer Media’s Lost Souls investigation, urges the government to fund a permanent tribute and support communities in researching and preserving these forgotten burial sites.
Clare Blackmore, chair of the Mendip Hospital Cemetery, explains that Mendip, by contrast, has nearly 3,000 graves, each marked with a number and documented in a burial register. “They were poor, they had mental health problems, and society didn’t regard them highly. At least in our case, we know who is buried where” says Clare.
The cemetery, which opened in 1874 for the Somerset and Bath County Pauper Lunatic Asylum, was left to fall into disrepair after it closed in 1963. When the NHS put it up for sale in 2001, local residents and politicians intervened to save the site. “A lot of the people who lived around the cemetery had worked at the hospital, sometimes for generations” says Clare. “To them, the cemetery was very important. Luckily, it was saved.”
Visitors now trace family histories, paying respects to those interred. “We had a gentleman visit recently whose great uncle is buried there. It’s lovely that families can now see exactly where their relatives rest” says Clare.
One story that resonates is that of Mary Ann Norman. She was transferred from Mendip Hospital to Tone Vale and could be buried at the unmarked Dean Road site. Mary Ann lived a challenging life in Wells and the surrounding area. Beginning in the workhouse, she spent periods in the asylum and the local prison, facing struggles with alcoholism and later dementia. Known for her spirited personality, Mary Ann’s life was often marked by hardship, but also resilience. Her story offers a poignant insight into the experiences of people whose lives were often overlooked, reminding us to treat their memory with care and respect.
Clare reflects on the differences between the two burial sites. She says they are very lucky with the records at Mendip. Tone Vale, built in 1892 as a spillover from Mendip because the hospital was full, likely contains many people who died there, though “we don’t know exactly who.” She adds that it’s sad that their lives aren’t acknowledged in the same way and that everyone who struggled with mental health deserved to be remembered.
The story of Mendip also illustrates the power of community action. Without volunteers and local advocacy, the cemetery might have been lost entirely. “The volunteers are amazing” says Clare. “They care for every grave, every tree, and the chapel. They give these people a resting place that is peaceful and respected.”
Clare hopes that the unmarked Tone Vale site might one day receive similar recognition. She says that even a simple plaque acknowledging those buried there would make a huge difference, since “they should be remembered or acknowledged in some way.”
As attention turns to mental health awareness, remembering those who came before is more important than ever. “By acknowledging the past” Clare reflects, “we connect with our own histories and understand the value of care and compassion today.”