Construction of Essex nursery resumes after discovery of 30 ancient skeletons halts project

Construction on a nursery in Great Chesterford, Essex, was initially halted in 2018 when archaeologists unearthed 30 Roman skeletons at the site. This discovery has caused significant delays, but the project is now set to continue.

The Great Chesterford Parish Council announced that after securing additional funding, work on the unfinished nursery will resume. The site, located approximately 150 metres east of a Roman-era hill fort, was first disrupted by the skeletal findings during groundwork for a ground source heat pump.

The discovery of the skeletons in 2018 led to the termination of the initial construction agreement by the Parish Council due to an irreparable breakdown between the nursery provider and the construction company. Further inspections in 2020 revealed serious structural issues with the partially-built nursery, necessitating partial reconstruction to address these defects.

Archaeologists are expected to return to the site soon to further assess the area, ensuring that any continuation of work respects the historical significance of the location.