Cemetery wall collapse repair could take months

Graves affected by the wall collapse date between 1882 and 1892

Rebuilding work on a collapsed wall at one corner of a cemetery could take 14-16 weeks.

A massive slump earlier in the year disturbed old graves at the Fordington Cemetery off Kings Road in Dorchester, Dorset, leading the town council to appeal for relatives of the deceased to get in touch, in case there needed to be exhumations and re-burials.

Part of the cemetery, adjacent to Holloway Road, remains closed for safety reasons with huge quantities of scaffolding propping up the embankment to keep it safe.

The start date for the works will be subject to design work, a contractor's availability and Dorset Council granting permission.

Dorchester Town Council described the wall collapse as "sudden and unexpected", sending tonnes of material crashing to the ground

Dorchester Town Council said that no close relatives had come forward and exhumations and re-burials were now unlikely if Dorset Council agreed to a slightly different position for the rebuilt wall.

If planning and conservation officers are not happy with the proposed new line, then exhumations and re-burials may still need to take place.

Graves affected by the wall collapse date between 1882 and 1892.

The wall collapse, described by the town council as "sudden and unexpected" sent tonnes of material crashing to the ground, mainly onto a car parking area, with no injuries or substantial damage.

The state of the wall has meant that access to some graves, and the town's German War Memorial have been closed to the public.

Dorset Wildlife Trust says the cemetery is listed as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest, with its unimproved calcareous grassland needing to be protected as much as possible during the works.

Council staff quickly cleared the area, retaining much of the facing stone to be used for the re-build.

If planning consent is approved the rebuilt wall will be slightly stepped out from the original to add to its structural strength.

Start date for the rebuilding works will be subject to permission from Dorset Council