An archaeological watching brief on groundworks at 1-3 Beaumont Street, Hexham, undertaken in accordance with the approved Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI), which was agreed with Northumberland County Council. 1-3 Beaumont Street faces the Abbey church of St Andrew in the historic core of Hexham. The site sits within the footprint of the medieval parish church of St Mary, parts of which remain incorporated in the neighbouring buildings. One area measuring 2.5m square was excavated, to permit the installation of a lift shaft. Disarticulated bone was encountered at a depth of c 1.0m BGL. Further excavated revealed parts of six graves and the foundation of a later stone wall. The human bone represented the partial remains of at least 11 individuals, including 9 adults (2 male and 2 female) and 2 juveniles, suggesting that the graveyard served the general community. All appear to have been buried in a supine position with the head to the west and possibly specifically aligned with the axis of the Abbey, demonstrating its importance.
Reinhard et al. (Wed,) studied this question.