THE on-going project of clearing the Quakers graveyard in Westbury, taken on by community groups including the Westbury Lions and Leos, has received help from local archaeologist, Julian Richards.
Westbury Leos started the clear-up of the 300-year-old Quaker graveyard, behind Pinniger Finch & Co in the town centre earlier this year, finding the burial site of Matravers school founder, John Matravers. They have also been working with Sally Hendry of the Heritage Society who has been researching the burial ground, and alongside members of the Westbury Shed who have been overseeing the building of the block wall that surrounds the area.
Now, they have also enlisted the help of ‘Mr Stonehenge’ , Julian Richards, an archaeologist in charge of all digs at Stonehenge Circle and has written ‘Stonehenge: The Story So Far’. He joined the group of Leos on Saturday 12th May to continue the project.
Julian said, “We are looking to continue to clear the site by removing the top soil and hope to give the graveyard back some of its identity and hope that people don’t continue to use it to dump their rubbish.
“The site is very important and it is brilliant that these youngsters are helping to get it back to what it once was and make it recognisable again as a Quaker graveyard. Hopefully by doing this, it will get back the respect that it needs.”
Speaking to the White Horse News Phoebe, a member of the Westbury Leos said, “My favourite part about this project is the different things we are finding along the way, we have just found a piece of Victorian pottery that could date back 150 years!
“Also, when we found the grave of Mr Matravers, that was really exciting.”
Sally Hendry, who has been researching the site has been searching through Quaker birth, deaths and marriages to get an idea of who is buried there.
Sally said, “It has been difficult to research as the Matravers family was so big. Also, I have only come across one reference to this particular Quaker burial site dating back to the 1890s, with no prior reference, which makes me think that it was a private grave.
“The research is currently on-going and I would like to hear from anyone who knows anything about the history of the site.”
If you have any information, Sally can be contacted at sjbh52@icloud.com or on 01373 229981.
