A mass grave containing more than 300 bodies has been uncovered in an Oldham cemetery.
The majority of the bodies belonged to stillborn babies and children and were found in a 12x12ft grave in Royton Cemetery in the Greater Manchester town.
Local councillors said they were discovered by a woman looking for her twin brothers who died in 1962, with one stillborn and the other dying within five hours of birth. Cllr Maggie Hurley said she was told to meet by the grave with a caretaker carrying a big gold ledger with the names of the deceased.
She has since found another four mass graves with hundreds more dead children. One in a Catholic area, another in a nonconformist area, and one in the Church of England section leaving the question how many other unnamed babies remain in unmarked graves across the country.
The unnamed woman looking for her brothers was told one of them was definitely in the first mass grave but “was not alone”. She is still looking for her other brother. She was told they were probably “top and tailed in the box” when they were buried in the 1960s.
Cllr 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. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. There was a ‘glitch in the system’ as to why the records hadn’t been put up online. Hearing about what happened to these people is just harrowing.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Fierce rivalry in best British flyweight fight for decades
This time last year, Sunny Edwards was on his way to the USA for a unification world title fight, and Galal Yafai was a five-fight novice.
Wiegman faces twin issues in tactical battle with Hayes
Sarina Wiegman had already highlighted where England need to improve long before Emma Hayes and the United States landed in London ahead of today's marquee clash at Wembley.
Crisis at City has shades of Mourinho's Bridge too far
For all the comments on Pep Guardiola's scratches, some senior figures in football were a bit shocked by the image.
Our favourite brands are at risk from changing demand
Constantly evolving consumer habits are threatening even the biggest names - factor in a competitive marketplace and rising overheads, and they're goners, says Chris Blackhurst
Insurgents fighting Assad's Syrian regime enter Aleppo
Surprise offensive is first time city is attacked since 2016
Macron praises those who helped rebuild Notre-Dame
President visits cathedral as it prepares to reopen next week
Three main Irish parties set for election photo finish
Sinn Fein, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are virtually neck-and-neck in terms of first preference votes in the Irish general election, according to an exit poll last night.
Ukraine could cede land for peace deal, says Zelensky
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested he would temporarily cede Ukrainian territory to Russia in exchange for joining Nato.
Russia suffers record 2,000 losses in one day, says Kyiv
Claims of unprecedented military casualties for Moscow come as Putin’s forces make advances in eastern Ukraine
Police name mother killed in hit-and-run e-bike crash
A young mother who was killed after she was knocked off an ebike in a hit-and-run crash has been named.