Human remains found in Baldock

Building work taking place at Meeting House Lane, Baldock (Image: Archant)

The discovery came after a planning application was submitted to North Herts District Council (NHDC) to build seven flats on the site of the Old Meeting House in Baldock.

A spokesman for Hertfordshire County Council (HCC), which is acting as the archaeological advisor to NHDC and any archaeological investigations, said: “HCC was consulted prior to a planning application being submitted to develop the site. As a result, two archaeological reports were submitted with the planning application: an archaeological desk-based assessment/trial trench evaluation, and a historic buildings recording survey.

“The results of these investigations confirmed that the meeting house dates to the 17th century. The trial trenches uncovered some burials which are likely to be associated with the meeting house. Therefore, after a recommendation from this office, archaeological conditions were put on the planning consent.”

The site, situated on Meeting House Lane, was stripped of its topsoil and subsoil under archaeological supervision and many more burials have been uncovered.

The burials will be excavated and archaeologically recorded.

A notice has been put up on the site by Archaeological Solutions Ltd, the company conducting the dig, which says it proposes to arrange for all remains to be removed and buried or cremated.

Cllr Peter Burt, NHDC’s portfolio holder for environment, said: “Our role is to ensure that any human remains found are treated with due respect. If they cannot be identified and traced to a surviving representative or family member, the remains will be reburied by us, either at Baldock cemetery or at Wilbury Hills, Letchworth.”