Around 16,000 Bodies To Be Exhumed to Make Way For A63 Upgrade
That's according to Highways England.
Up to 16,000 bodies will have to be dug up to make way for the new A63 Castle Street upgrade, it has been revealed.
Archaeologists are currently carrying out investigation work at Hull's Trinity burial ground to prepare for when the churchyard needs to be dug up as part of the scheme.
A number of bodies will need to be exhumed while the scheme is carried out, and reburied when the project is completed and Highways England now say that around 16,000 bodies will need to be exhumed.
The A63 Castle Street scheme will improve access to the Port of Hull by widening some sections of the road, upgrading the Mytongate junction and building two new footbridges over the road.
The scheme also aims to help reduce the impact of the barrier caused by Castle Street between the city centre to the north, and the tourist and recreational developments to the south.
James Holmes, Highways England project manager, said:
“This scheme will be of huge benefit to Hull and it is important that we do this imperative preparatory work sensitively.
“Our primary thoughts have been with the families of those buried here and so we have worked closely with representatives from Holy Trinity Church and the Diocese of York as well as heritage bodies, such as Historic England, to ensure that all appropriate measures were in place for this work and is was carried out with full care and consideration.”
The burial ground opened in 1783 and was used by Holy Trinity Church until around 1860. Parish records reveal that up to 44,041 burials took place on the site until it was closed in 1861.
The site was used intensively and numerous people were buried within each plot. Burials were placed at a relatively shallow depth due to high water levels in the area.
A total of 191 burials were uncovered during the investigation with the majority of skeletons belonging to children.
Meanwhile, archaeologists have also uncovered a fascinating insight into the lives of the city’s population in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The testing phase has also provided valuable insight about the lives of those buried. Early findings suggest that a number of conditions were prevalent at the time, including arthritis and the spine condition spondylosis.
None of the skeletons could be identified but the team uncovered items including name plates, viewing panels and evidence of coffin handles. There were also various buttons, pins, clothing, shrouds and hair found.
And a medieval floor tile, which is thought to have been imported during 19th century work on the crypt at Holy Trinity Church in Market Place, was among the artefacts discovered.