A couple in Wye, near Ashford, Kent, had a shock when builders renovating their home uncovered human bones under their patio. The discovery, made in 2019 during an extension project, initially sparked fears of a murder scene, but six years later, the remains have been identified as Anglo-Saxon and were finally laid to rest in a churchyard service.
Bones found during extension work
Ross and Claire Sledger were having an extension built at their home when workers found the bones. Police were called and a three-day excavation followed. The remains included a femur, two skulls, ribs, part of a pelvis, and fragments of a humerus and finger bones. The couple moved out of their home while the investigation took place.
Ross, 49, recalled the moment his wife Claire called him with the news. "Builders were doing our extension and Claire called me to say they've found some bones and my first thought was it was someone's pet," he said. "A builder had actually found several, but it wasn't until we saw a femur which raised alarm bells as you could see it was human."
Police investigation and village speculation
The site was placed under 24/7 observation the following day as police treated it as a potential murder scene. "By the following day we had 24/7 observation on the site because they thought it could be a murder scene. Police were just sieving top soil, but when you have five police cars outside your house in a little village word did get around quite quickly," Ross said.
The couple left their home to stay with friends, and it was there they received the news that a second body had been found on the third day. The presence of multiple sets of remains intensified the investigation, but examinations eventually revealed the bones were Anglo-Saxon, dating from between the fifth and 11th centuries.
Reburial service at St Gregory and St Martin Church
More than 25 people attended the service at St Gregory and St Martin Church, which began with the singing of William Blake's Jerusalem. Reverend Ravi Holy, rector of the church, said the identities of both bodies remain unknown, but villagers should still have the opportunity to pay their respects.
"Ross and Claire are a lovely couple in the village and it was obviously a shock to them," he said. "But once we knew more information and discovered they were Anglo-Saxon bones, we wanted to do something and that's why we've had the service. I'm absolutely delighted with the turnout and how it's gone. Everyone who lives in Wye is generally proud of living here and they enjoy their history."
Historical context and community response
Historians noted that Bridge Street, where the Sledgers live, had been developed for housing in the 1930s, and a number of skeletons were found during that work. Claire Sledger, 48, who runs The Sawyers bar in Bridge Street, said their neighbour had also discovered a sword and other bones shortly after the 2019 discovery.
Reflecting on the reburial, Claire said: "It's taken a long time to discover what they were and whether they were going to be archived. It's been a lovely service and knowing the bones will be in the churchyard is nice so everyone can pay their respects here, rather than at our house." The remains now rest in the churchyard, allowing the community to honour the ancient dead.
