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Recently, an unusual structural defect caused a dramatic sinkhole-like collapse. historic english churchyard — 300-year-old family safe revealed.
The hole opened on Saturday, November 8, at All Saints Church in Martock, Somerset. It was the same weekend the parish held its Remembrance Sunday service.
Photos show the exposed underground vault of a collapsed stone box tomb in the church’s grassy garden.
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A box grave, also known as a false crypt, is an above-ground structure that covers a grave, but does not contain the remains themselves. Destroyed tombs exposed family safeHowever, the ruins inside were intact.
The Rev. Paul Fillery, a church official, told Fox News Digital that the collapse has led to a “pretty busy week” for the diocese.
A centuries-old family vault has been exposed after a sudden collapse in the graveyard of All Saints Church in Martock, Somerset. (Google Maps, Pastor Paul Fillery)
“The weight of the box tomb combined with the weakened ceiling caused the whole thing to collapse through the vault ceiling, leaving a very large hole,” Fillery said.
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of ancient vault, Made of locally mined hamstone, stone shelves were built for the coffins of the entire family, which were sealed once they were all buried, he added.
An ornate box-shaped tomb was then placed above ground as a “very grand tombstone,” the pastor said.
“Due to the weight of the box-shaped tomb on top of the weakened ceiling, the whole thing collapsed through the ceiling of the vault, leaving a very large hole,” the pastor said. (Pastor Paul Fillery)
The vault contains the remains of Reverend Charles Lewis. local church A leader who died in the mid-18th century.
The wife’s body was in the vault, as were the bodies of five other adults in the Lewis family.
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two children Buried in a vault. One died at the age of six and the other as an infant.
“We know this because some years ago someone recorded all the graves and their inscriptions,” Fillery said.
The structural collapse is said to be “incredibly rare” and unrelated to weather or soil erosion. (Pastor Paul Fillery)
Contrary to earlier reports, church officials said the collapse was not caused by rain or rain, but by a structural defect. soil erosion.
He called the incident “incredibly unusual.”
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“There are a few of these box graves in the churchyard, but everything else seems to be OK,” Fillery said.
He added that restoring the vault and Grade II-listed tomb was likely to cost tens of thousands of pounds, and the church was accepting donations for the purpose.
There are still several box graves in the churchyard, and they all appear to be structurally sound, according to church official Rev. Fillery. (Google Maps)
“The aim is to restore and restore the vault and box tomb as much as possible, while paying the utmost respect to the families who rest there,” Mr Filly said.
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“When all is said and done,” he added, “I propose to hold a meeting.” A simple service at the cemetery Praise God once again for them and pray that they rest in peace in the coming days and years. ”
