Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Location

Full description

Undated Inhumation Cemetery
Multiple human remains have been found in the gardens of three adjacent properties. These are likely related to the inhumation cemetery close by (NHER 5544). Two fragments of iron from this site have been given the possible date of 17th century, suggesting the human remains discovered here may be Post-Medieval.
See HER Record Card (S1) and HER Recording Notes (S3) for further information.
A. Henderson (HES), 11 April 2025.

April 1980. Stray Find.
Found in garden of no 118.
Human Lower jaw and some small bones.
Taken to King's Lynn Museum but forgotten until August 1982.
Compiled by E.M. James (KLM), January 1983. Information from record card (S1).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 8 January 2024.

August 1982. Stray Find.
In digging soakaway in garden of no 120.
Human remains of several people found. Very close together, apparently a mass burial, bodies overlapping. Large quantities taken to King's Lynn Museum. Accessioned as KILLM : 1982.157 which also includes the 1980 finds.
Outlier of site NHER 5544?
Compiled by E.M. James (KLM), January 1983. Information from record card (S1).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 8 January 2024.

May 1984. Stray Finds.
Further finds brought to KLM.
Part of child's jawbone - 9-10 year old?
2 iron objects, L-shaped with further spikes at right angles. Very rusty. Arms of L 11cm and 6cm approximately. Possibly coffin clamps. Seen by British Museum, Museum of London and V&A. Tentative date 17th century. Correspondence and X-rays at King's Lynn Museum.
Sherd, late medieval or early post medieval. Unglazed pink fabric, fine, very soft, big handle stub.
These objects and the additional human remains were all donated to King's Lynn Museum (KILLM : 1986.25).
Compiled by E.M. James (KLM), 12 March 1986. Information from record card (S1).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 8 January 2024.

1999. Stray Find.
Stray find in disturbed ground near sewer trench at 122 Wootton Road.
Human remains found.
Information from HER Record Notes (S3).
This was previously recorded under NHER 5544.
D. Gurney (NLA), 15 April 1999. Amended A. Henderson (HES), 11 April 2025.

July 2005. Stray Find.
Found while digging fence post hole in garden of 118 Wootton Road:
Human skull.
Information from [1].
E. Rose (NLA), 5 September 2005.

September 2024. Watching Brief.
Maintained during construction of extension at rear of 122 Wootton Road.
One of the foundation trenches excavated exposed an in situ east-to-west aligned inhumation burial. This trench was then extended to allow these remains to be fully excavated. The skeleton was substantially complete and likely to represent the remains of a mature adult female. This individual appears to have suffered from widespread degenerative conditions, including osteoporosis. Six unstratified fragments of disarticulated human bone were also recovered at the site. These were probably from two or three adult males.
The only other feature identified was an undated north-west to south-east aligned possible ditch.
The small number of other unstratified finds recovered included two late post-medieval/modern pottery sherds and a glass ink bottle of a similar age.
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 8 January 2024.

Monument Types

• EXTENDED INHUMATION (Unknown date)
• GRAVE (Unknown date)
• INHUMATION CEMETERY (Unknown date)
• FINDSPOT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• CEMETERY (Post Medieval - 1540 AD? to 1900 AD?)
• FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD? to 1900 AD?)
• FINDSPOT (Post Medieval to Late 20th Century - 1540 AD to 2000 AD)

Associated Finds

• HUMAN REMAINS (Undated)
• HUMAN REMAINS (Unknown date)
• HUMAN REMAINS (Unknown date)
• HUMAN REMAINS (Unknown date)
• HUMAN REMAINS (Unknown date)
• HUMAN REMAINS (Unknown date)
• POT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
• COFFIN FITTING (16th Century to 17th Century - 1600 AD? to 1699 AD?)
• BOTTLE (19th Century to Late 20th Century - 1801 AD to 2000 AD)
• POT (19th Century to Late 20th Century - 1801 AD to 2000 AD)

Protected Status - none

Sources and further reading

Related records

Find out more...

• Parish Summary: King's Lynn (Parish Summary)