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Families of 13 buried near collapsed wall sought

BBC Metal fencing along a cemetery with headstones either side.BBC
Rebuilding the wall may mean some graves need to be exhumed

The families of four men and nine women buried in a cemetery are being sought after a wall collapsed.

The 13 graves at Fordington Cemetery are near the retaining wall along Holloway Road that needs to be rebuilt after it fell away into a car park.

Dorchester Town Council said their remains may need to exhumed and reburied in another area of the cemetery as the section where the graves were had to be excavated to carry out the work.

Direct family members of the graves affected by the collapsed wall have until 30 April to get in touch with the council.

Car park with wall along left side with area of scaffolding in place and a pile of stones alongside the wall.
A stretch of the 5.5m (18ft) high wall has collapsed into a car park

The graves span a 13-year period from 1879 - 1892, and the ages of those buried range from 20 to 81.

The affected area of the cemetery and car park has been fenced off ahead of the repair work.

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