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Baby among 15 people whose graves will be dug up at Tunbridge Wells Cemetery

By: Luke May

Published: 15:36, 28 March 2019

Updated: 16:06, 28 March 2019

An infant's body is one of 15 set to be disturbed at a cemetery to potentially make way for new houses.

Human remains at Tunbridge Wells Cemetery are set to be dug up to improve a storage depot and possibly build new homes.

After breaking the story this morning, KentOnline can now reveal the 15 names of those whose bodies will be disturbed.

Tunbridge Wells Cemetery. Picture: Chris Davey

While the bodies date back to the 19th century, the most recently interred was buried in 1928.

Consecrated graves at the development site became general land following a deconsecration in 1960.

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They are:

No date has been set for work to take place, but any human remains that are discovered will be reintered within the existing cemetery.

The area they are buried in is home to the council’s parks contractor’s storage depot, which is set to be replaced.

A spokesperson from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council said: “The council wishes to replace the depot which is no longer adequate for its use.

"The new depot will only use part of the existing site and therefore the council as landowner will seek planning permission for alternative use of the remaining site.

“We will ensure that any found remains are treated with dignity and we plan to reinter them in another part of the cemetery and ensure they are suitably and respectfully marked...” - Tunbridge Wells Borough Council spokesman

“We are at the very early stages of this project and no specific details have been agreed.

“It is not unusual for graves to be moved in this way and there is a legal procedure which we are following including giving public notice.

“We will ensure that any found remains are treated with dignity and we plan to reinter them in another part of the cemetery and ensure they are suitably and respectfully marked.”

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Cllr Lawrence Heasman said: “I’m surprised there are human remains there, they must have been have been buried a long time ago.

“Obviously this public notice is giving any possible relatives a chance to be aware of the work.”

Work will begin in the next two months.

The names of those whose bodies are being disturbed will be available to view from today until May 9.

To view them, visit the Town Hall in Civic Way between 9am and 5pm.

Read more: All the latest news from Tunbridge Wells

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