NHER 5544 (Monument record) - Inhumation Cemetery at Stone Bridge Housing Estate, Gaywood, King's Lynn

Inhumation Cemetery
The cemetery was discovered during the construction of Stone Bridge Housing estate in 1953. Large amounts of complete human skeletons were found with the heads of the skeletons pointing west, suggesting a Christian cemetery. A fragment of a 17th century wine bottle was disocvered underneath one skeleton, providing an initial date for the cemetery. However, Mid-Late Saxon and Medieval finds have been found in close proximity (NHER 69114) and it is possible that the cemetery has an earlier date.
Information from Norfolk Archaeology article (S1), HER Record Card (S2), HER Recording Form (S3) and Ordnance Survey Record Card (S4).
See also R. R. Clarke Record Card (S5).
A. Henderson (HES), 11 April 2025.

1953. Field Observation
A field opbservation by C. H. Lewton Brain during preparations for new housing estate close to the Bawsey Drain lead to the discovery of a possible 17th century cemetery.
Numerous human skeletons with heads to west at a depth of 0.6m to 0.75m (2 to 2.5 feet) lying in long trenches running east-west across the southern end of the field. Lying in had marl with stiff yellow clay above. 14 skeletons revealed in one trench. Visited by C.H. Lewton-Braine who found a fragment of a 17th-century wine bottle beneath one of the skeletons. Ironwork, perhaps from coffin, retained by NCM.
Medieval sherds are recorded from this vicinity (some in Norwich Castle Museum).
See Norfolk Archaeology article (S1) and R. R. Clarke article (S6) for further information. See also OS Record Card (S4) and HER Record Card (S2).
R.R. Clarke (NCM). Amended A. Henderson (HES), 11 April 2025.

1969. Stray Find.
Stray find while building bungalows off Field Lane (southern end of site).
Casual find of human skeleton.
Press cuttings in King's Lynn Museum.
Information from HER Record Card (S2).
E.M. James (KLM).

1983. Post-Excavation Analysis.
An examination of ironwork.
W. Milligan (NCM) examined ironwork and thought it unlikely to have come from a coffin. Source of ironwork not originally mentioned but presumed to be 1953 field observation.
Information from HER Record Card (S2).
E.M. James (KLM). Amended A. Henderson (HES), 11 April 2025.

2018-2022. King's Lynn UAD.
Given the other finds from this site and its vicinity, it is possible to question the posited post-medieval date for this cemetery, and propose that an earlier date, perhaps as early as the Late Saxon period, is possible. It may be the case that the 17th-century glass from beneath one of the skeletons identified by Lewton-Braine in 1953 was intrusive. It is also very unusual for a post-medieval Christian cemetery to be in an unmarked location, and not associated with a parish church or chapel. The quantity and orderly layout of the inhumations suggests an organised cemetery, rather than anything more ad hoc. If further human remains are found in vicinity, it would be beneficial for these to be subject to radiocarbon dating with a view to refining the chronology of this site.
A. Cattermole (King's Lynn UAD), 19 March 2019.

September-October 2023. Watching Brief.
Foundation trenches for side and rear extensions to 152 Wootton Road (TF 6386 2113) revealed no evidence for burials.
See report (S7) and NHER 68418 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 August 2024.

02 April 2025. Stray Find.
Stray find during the removal of a tree stump in the garden of 27 Barnwell Road.
Human remains were discovered; three incomplete bones were found. These were the proximal three-quarters of a right tibia, the proximal third of a left tibia, and part of the shaft of a femur. The tibiae are a pair and the femur is of a size which suggests it is probably part of the same individual. The individual was an adult, most likely a male. The bones are in good condition with some staining.
The bones were reburied on the advice of Norfolk County Council's Senior Archaeological Officer, J. Percival.
See unpublished report (S8) for further details.
A. Henderson (HES), 11 April 2025.

April 2025. HER Enhancement.
Late Saxon and medieval finds were previously recorded under this record, now under NHER 69114. These are likely the finds referred to by A. Cattermole to suggest an earlier date for the cemetery.
Human remains found at 122 Wootton Road are now under NHER 18627.
A. Henderson (HES), 11 April 2025.