Archaeologists were called in to excavate when evidence of burials was found during work to install underfloor heating. We believed that it was likely that members of teh manaton family were buried in the Maanton chapel from the 15th to 18th centuries, so archaeologists held a watching brief when worj=k started. But we did not know how dramatic the discoveries would be. Detaie darchaeological work revelawed three stone lined and lime rendered double depth burial vaults, believed to date from the early 1700s, plus a fourth subsequently found at the south edge of the chapel but not excavated. One of the vaults was wide enough to hold two coffins side by side.Partial evidence of five earlier earth dug graves which had been disturbed by later burials, was also found.The middle vault was in two layers separated by a layer of slate slabs. The top layer contained disarticulated skeletal remains which the archaeologists suggest were earlier remains, disturbed when the vault was being dug. There was evidence that the other two vaults would have been similarly double layered, with earlier remains placed on the top layer, but the slate slab layers had collapsed and the slates were found randomly within the vaults. The north and middle vaults contained fairly complete skeletal remains on the bottom layer. There was skeletal evidence on the bottom layer of the double vault that two people had been buried at that level. There was evidence of coffins in each of the three vaults excavated, most notably in the double one.The fourth vault has slate capping part way down and an intact coffin below this, on the bottom layer. There was no evidence of skeletal remains on the top layer within the vault. This vault will not be excavated, providing it does not affect the supports required for the new floor and glass screen. Photographs were taken below the slates, using a special camera, which show a complete coffin with the initials S M, a heart, and the date 1737 picked out in brass studs on the lid. The burial register confirms that this must be the last resting place of Sampson Manaton, son of Francis and the last of the Manatons to live and be buried in South Hill/. He was buried on 7th August 1737.AC archaeology, who carried out the excavation, will be providing a detailed report in due course. This and the information from the DNA samples may help to identify some of the remains.In the meantime we speculate that, assuming the vault burials were the latest ones dug in the Manaton chapel, they were probably dug in date order from the north to south, the last being Sampson Manaton (buried1737) at the southern edge of the chapel. If so, the double vault probably contained the remains of Sampson’s parents, Francis Manaton (buried 1735) and his wife Mary (buried 1730). The middle vault may be that of their son, Ambrose Manaton (buried 1723). The north vault is probably that of Henry Manaton (buried March 1717), cousin to Francis Manaton's mother Elizabeth.https://www.tavistock-today.co.uk/news/manaton-ancestors-remains-unearthed-at-st-sampsons-840611
St Sampson’s church bells were taken down in 2023 for safety reasons but had been silent for many years before that - hopefully they won't be silent for much longer! Can you help bring them home?Four of the bells date from 1684 and, sadly, expert advice is that they are too thin to be safely tuned without cracking and even if attempted, sympathetic corrective tuning would not be possible. They will therefore be re-hung for static chiming.The bells are currently being stored at Taylors Bellfounders in Leiciester. We need to raise £25,000 then we can instruct Taylors to begin the restoration process and bring them back to chime out across the parish once again. We need your help. We have raised £5,000 Can you help us to raise the remaining £20,000? We are applying for grants, but need match funding. For more information and to donate any amount, big or small, follow this link; https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/stsampsonschurchbells...Thank You! - Whether you can donate, or simply spread the word.Join us in preserving this treasured piece of our heritage. #SaveOurBells #StSampsonsChurch #CommunityFundraising #HistoricPreservationTo read the full article: https://www.callingtoncluster.org.uk/To read about the wonderful folk at Taylors Bell Foundry https://www.taylorbells.co.uk/
