Graveyard in Churchpark

In a broad expanse of average pasture, located on a low rise with a fall of ground towards a stream 75m to N. An area of wet boggy ground extends to N of the stream. A slightly raised, roughly rectangular area (c. 40m E−W; c. 30m N−S) with a ruined stone-built church (MA103-002001-) in the centre. The perimeter cannot be traced on the SW angle and is barely discernible at W. It is clearly defined on the N side by a grass-covered scarp (H 1.5m; Wth slope 5m) which is enhanced by a natural fall of ground, and on the E side by a lower, slumped scarp (H 0.6m; Wth slope 2.5m). The S portion is occupied by a children’s burial ground (MA103-002003-) on a low platform which abuts the S wall of the church. This enclosure appears to be the remains of a graveyard associated with the church. It is not indicated on the 1838 and 1916 OS 6-inch maps, and no gravemarkers are evident within the area to W, N or E of the church, suggesting that it went out of use at an early stage, long before the southern portion was reused as a children’s burial ground. A field wall on a roughly NW−SE axis crosses the graveyard merging with the S wall of the church. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 4 October 2022

A medieval graveyard; likely associated with a now-destroyed ecclesiastical site. Its location on a low rise near a stream suggests a long-standing tradition of sacred or ceremonial use of the landscape.