'Heartbreaking' - Mass grave containing more than 300 bodies uncovered in Greater Manchester town

The unmarked burial site contains 145 stillborn children, 128 babies and young kids and 29 adults, according to local councillors. The discovery was made by a Royton woman who was searching for the last resting place of her twin brothers, who passed away shortly after birth in 1962. It is also believed the 12×12 burying place may not be the only one in Royton Cemetery. 

One of the resident’s brothers was stillborn and the other passed away within five hours of birth. She told councillors, who assisted in the search, that her parents were never able to say goodbye.

The revelation follows the discovery of another mass grave in The Wirral earlier this year, where resident Gina Jacobs, 79, found her stillborn son after a 53-year search. Jacobs has since been shining a light on the “outrageous lie” practiced by hospitals all over the country up until the 80s and 90s.

Over the past 20 years, mass graves containing the remains of stillborn babies have been discovered in Lancashire, Devon, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield. Medical staff would tell bereaved parents that their children would be buried alongside ‘a nice person’ being buried that same day – often without giving them the opportunity to say goodbye. Instead, the babies were interred in mass graves. 

In a statement released by the Royton Independents, councillors Maggie Hurley and Jade Hughes wrote they had been ‘profoundly affected’ by the ‘heartbreaking revelation’. They have put forward a motion to Oldham Council to ‘recognise the injustice’ that has taken place. 

The statement read: “How many babies are laying in Royton Cemetery in mass graves, their identities unknown to their grieving relatives?  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. We cannot change what has happened, but we can ensure that the babies born sleeping are named, recognised, and never forgotten.” 

A motion, due to be discussed at a council meeting on Wednesday, September 11, has called for the council to erect a memorial to the buried children. It also suggests records and documents about the burials should be made more accessible and digitalised and support given for grieving relatives.   

The adults in the graves are presumed to be what are known as “pauper’s burials” – for individuals whose families could not afford to pay for a grave.