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Ancient burials at cricket ground

A housing development taking place on the site of Kent Cricket Club’s St Lawrence ground has been delayed after what’s believed to be a medieval leper colony was discovered.

Up to 100 graves have been discovered and it is believed that this could also include victims of the Black Death from the St Lawrence hospital which stood on the grounds long before the cricket club was established. The hospital was present from the 12th century through to 1536 when it was ordered to be destroyed by Henry VIII.

The land in question was used by the club as a car park and was sold off to developers Persimmon Homes to raise £10million for a major renovation at the cricket club. The work, which is being seen as financial salvation for the club, is now likely to be delayed as law dictates that the remains must be removed and re-buried at another location.

Marion Green of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust who carried out a survey of the land said, “We have carried our preliminary work on the site and have found several medieval burials but we haven’t carried out a detailed survey of the site yet”.

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