The concept of ‘rest in peace’ has had to take a very different meaning in the world of the exhumer than that of the oblivious majority. ‘Rest in peace’ means rest to the soul, not rest to our mortal remains. Increasingly the need is arising for a variety of reasons to remove and to re-inter human remains. As a company Phoenix Exhumation Ltd have been involved in this sensitive practice for a number of years.

The removal of human remains is known as exhumation and is only practised when there is an absolute need. From an individual point of view, exhumations can occur if there have been suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, and the police may request an exhumation so that the cause of death can be determined. Unknown burials either not identified or misidentified when buried, can be reburied if their identification comes to light and surviving kin so wish.

The removal of human remains en masse can occur, when redundant cemeteries are bought in areas where space is of a premium and the land developed for reasons such as housing, creating new roads etc., or on the relocation of a cemetery. Cemeteries from the Stone Age? up to present day if no longer required for current burial programmes can potentially under home office licence be legally removed.

Remains may be exhumed in order to be re-interred at a more appropriate location. Such as Father Lester, Major Forbes and Mrs Forbes, and Cardinal Vaughan.

Once human remains reach a certain age, some cultures consider exhumation acceptable. This serves several purposes:
Cemeteries have a limited number of plots in which to bury the dead. Once all plots are full, older remains may be moved to an ossuary to accommodate more bodies. It enables archaeologists to search the remains to better understand human culture.

It enables construction agencies to clear the way for new constructions. Such as at Payne Road and Commercial, London Road, Kings Cross/St Pancreas expansion.

Exhumations are generally rare. They cannot happen without having the necessary legal authorisation. It is important to point out that it is unlawful to disturb any human remains (this also includes any cremated remains) without first obtaining the necessary lawful authority.

There are generally two types of licences that are used for exhumation. Phoenix Staff are skilled in applying both.
1)  A Home Office Licence

2) A Bishops Faculty

One of these or both will be needed; it is dependant on where the remains are at present and where they are going to be re-interred.
Most burial grounds/cemeteries are segregated between Consecrated and Unconsecrated areas.
Consecration is the term that is given to either all areas of a cemetery or smaller sections that have been ‘dedicated to the service of God according to the right of the Church of England’.
The term consecration means to be ”set apart, or separated, for use by the Lord”.

Over the whole of England there are several ‘Diocese’, they cover many large cities, towns and villages and the eight cemeteries that Tameside Council administer come under two different dioceses – Manchester and Chester.
If the remains are to be removed from a grave in a consecrated section of a cemetery and are to be re-buried into another consecrated section then only a Bishops Faculty is required.
If the exhumation is from consecrated ground to be re-buried in the same grave or they are to go to an unconsecrated section both a Home Office Licence and Bishops Faculty will be required.
If the exhumation is from unconsecrated ground and the subsequent reburial is in unconsecrated ground then only a Home Office Licence is needed.

Phoenix Exhumations Ltd are NATIONAL EXPERTS in the field of exhumation and are happy to offer confidential advice.

Based on a dissertation By Janine Knighton, BSc (Hons)

Phoenix Exhumation Ltd were commissioned by the Masters and Fellows of Jesus College, Cambridge to investigate a 200 year mystery – the identification of an anatomy teaching skeleton prior to its retirement.

We had been told that the skeleton was that of a woman, and was made up of three skeletons.

The skeleton was examined during February 2011, with particular aims being to establish gender and number of individuals the skeleton was composed of.

The skeleton reflects the need within medical institutions during the 18^th century onwards to be provided with cadavers on which students could learn anatomy and practice dissection.  In 1752 the Company of Surgeons was granted the corpses of all executed felons (Boyle et al, 2005) and in 1832 the Anatomy Act was passed in which the medical profession could take for dissection all unclaimed bodies of those dying without family, in the workhouse or hospitals. In addition, skeletons were brought to Europe from other parts of the world.

The skeleton was presented for examination in a wooden display case, strung with the original nineteenth century wiring and pins and with a circular hanging loop inserted into the skull.  The spine was layered with paper or parchment to replace the inter-vertebral discs.

The results of examination by Phoenix Specialist Staff has shown that mainly one individual is represented, but with the right patella from another individual. It was discovered that the skeleton is male not female, with both Caucasoid and Negroid features, suggesting a mixed race ancestry, of medium height and age at death in the late 20’s to late 30’s.

General health was relatively good, traces of childhood anaemia were present, some dental disease and evidence that he was a pipe smoker.

Until late on Tuesday of the past week (15 February 2011), as a member of the Ministry of Justice Panel, I was advised not to discuss the nature or results of our discussions with the MoJ about revisions of burial legislation affecting human remains. This is also why BABAO was silent during the recent press coverage of this important subject. Now that I am at liberty to discuss this meeting, I can report that, although the MoJ do not feel that changes to the current burial laws are feasible at the present time, they are working toward a much more flexible approach within the current law, whereby reburial of remains will not normally be a requirement. The MoJ and English Heritage are currently drafting revised Section 25 licence application forms and guidance notes to reflect the new situation. Those with Section 25 licences issued between 2008 and 2011, which stipulate reburial after two years, should approach the MoJ when this term is due to expire if they wish to retain the remains after this time. It is very clear that the media attention generated by Duncan Sayer, Mike Parker Pearson, and Mike Pitts was an extremely important component in moving this agenda forward.

Christopher Knusel

The Phoenix Specialist team were called in March 2011  to conduct initial investigations on a cemetery site prior to development and the removal of 5000 internments.

The work was completed under archaeological watching brief conditions (report pending) and interesting discoveries were made.

Autumn saw Phoenix’s Specialist team complete the UK’s largest commercial archaeological graveyard survey.  The graveyard survey recorded 650 surviving grave markers for the grave yard which contained 9,500 inhumations.

Project Manager, Dawn Keen, MA (Arch), stated ‘this was a fascinating project which touched historically on the British Empire and the era of exploration and emigration in particular of the survey ship The HMS Rattlesnake, a member of which was massacured by West African natives and whose memorial is erected in the graveyard’.

Several individuals buried within the graveyard are recorded as having emigrated.  In particular, a family are recorded as being some of earliest settlers to New  Zealand in the 1850s.  In addition, a young man is recorded as having passed away on his journey from England to New York on the ship the Aurania.

The full report will able available on line shortly.

During the spring of 2009 Phoenix was proud to add another service, that of cemetery management. 

Our specialist team was called in to restore, and extend the life of a east end cemetery, London.

We are proud to announce that Phoenix Exhumation Ltd was incorporated on 26th June 2008. The company brings together a team of unrivalled experience and expertise and director Rupert Matthews commented “Phoenix are now the only company capable of providing both archaeological and non-archaeological exhumation undertaken by a single in-house team, and we look forward to building relationships with clients developing the company over the coming years”

Prior to the redevelopment of Victorian Baptist Burial ground, Payne Road, London, for a major Social Housing Project Phoenix Specialist management Staff were called into ensure the swift and efficient completion of the project.

The initial estimate for the works was an eight week programme, but under the management of Phoenix staff this was completed in under six weeks at a total contract cost of £650,000, resulting in a significant gain for the construction programme.

A total of 1000  inhumations were removed and all were reburied at Woodgrange Cemetery, Manor Park.

The work revealed some interesting facts including 2 brick vaults and 12 lead coffins.

In addition numerous individuals were found to have undergone horizontal craniotomies performed upon them.  This procedure was relatively uncommon in the Georgian and Victorian periods.  However, in the 18th century there was a growing need in the medical institutions to be provided with cadavers on which students might learn anatomy and practice dissection.  So great was the demand for cadavers that in 1752, the Company of Surgeons was granted the corpses of all executed felons.   Demand still outstripped supply, stimulating the industry of ‘resurrectionists’, who raided graveyards, exhuming bodies and selling them on for a handsome profit.

Spoil cleaned and removed from site 4500 cubic metres.

The Phoenix specialist team completed a comprehensive crypt excavation and restoration of the family crypt of the 7th Marquess of Northampton with interesting results.

We discovered evidence to support claims that the original church had been destroyed by Parliamentarian troops in 1643.

During the course of the excavation we discovered evidence that crypt had been “cleaned up” by the 4th Earl in order to make room for his direct family.  All earlier coffins were piled in a corner.  Within the heap our team discovered six anthopoid coffins.  At the bottom we found the remains of the coffins of the first Earl and his wife.

Following our investigations we installed modern drainage and shelving for the inhabitants ensuring, we sincerely hope, another 400 years of use.