Mass grave with hundreds of bodies, including babies, found in England town

A woman searching for the grave of her twin brothers who died in 1962 shortly after being born made a horrifying discovery in a cemetery in the British town of Oldham. She came across a mass grave containing more than 300 bodies, mostly of babies and children.

She came across the unmarked 12x12ft grave at the Royton Cemetery which contains the remains of 145 stillborn infants, 128 babies and young children and 29 adults.

The woman who has not been named, says her parents never got to say goodbye to the twins who were taken away soon after they died. While one of them was stillborn, the other one died five hours after being born.

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Local councillor Maggie Hurley said that four more mass graves with hundreds more dead children have been found. One in a Catholic area, another in a non-conformist area, and one in the Church of England section. People are shocked to learn about the mass graves and are wondering if there are more.

The woman was told that one of her brothers was definitely in the first mass grave but “was not alone”. She has yet to locate her other brother. The woman was told they were probably “top and tailed them in the box”.

Before the 1980s, if there was a stillbirth, it was common to take away the babies from their parents without telling them anything about their burial place. They were simply told that their child was buried alongside a 'nice person' that same day. However, the babies were reportedly just buried in mass graves.

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Hurley told The Independent, “This is the biggest thing I have ever faced as a councillor. I’ve gone through every emotion from anger to hate – to absolute devastation."

Ever since the discovery was made, she says “countless” families looking for their relatives have contacted her.

Memorial for buried children

Hurley and fellow Royton Independent councillor Jade Hughes said in a statement, “It’s a stark injustice that parents were denied the fundamental right to bury their babies, a right that should be inherent and unquestionable. This situation should stir our collective sense of fairness and empathy.”

The statement added that the woman who made the discovery was left “in tears” and “feeling a profound sense of loss and injustice”.

The Oldham Times reported that there are plans to erect a memorial for the buried children and it will be discussed at a council meeting on September 11. Documents will also be digitalised so that families can easily access them.