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Graves 'sink' by up to two feet at Faversham Love Lane Cemetery after heavy rain

06:00, 04 August 2021

updated: 15:57, 04 August 2021

A number of graves at a town cemetery appear to have sunk by up to two feet following heavy rain.

Faversham resident Vicky Hilden was "shocked" to discover the sight at Faversham Cemetery on Monday afternoon.

Several graves have sunk at Love Lane Cemetery in Faversham following heavy rain
Several graves have sunk at Love Lane Cemetery in Faversham following heavy rain

Miss Hilden, 33, had been visiting her grandmother's grave at the site just off Love Lane with her mum.

She said: "It was quite scary to see. When we were at the car you couldn't see the bottom of them, or how far they had sunk.

"I would say it was about 2.5ft. It would have gone past my knee."

A total of four graves are known to have been affected - all of which were lain in spring this year.

Miss Hilden took to social media, in the hope of making the loved ones of those buried there aware.

Several graves have sunk at Love Lane Cemetery in Faversham following heavy rain
Several graves have sunk at Love Lane Cemetery in Faversham following heavy rain
Several graves have sunk at Love Lane Cemetery in Faversham following heavy rain
Several graves have sunk at Love Lane Cemetery in Faversham following heavy rain

"I've got lots of family members buried up there," she said.

"It was a shock to me. I would have been quite upset if that was one of my family's graves."

What appears to look like sinking is believed to have been caused by heavy rainfall that hit Faversham over the weekend, causing flash flooding on Sunday.

Swale Borough Council, which is responsible for maintaining the graves at the cemetery, said: "We are aware of the effect last weekend’s heavy rainfall has had on a few new burial sites in Faversham.

Flooding in Forbes Road, Faversham, on Sunday following heavy rainfall. Picture: Colin Edwards
Flooding in Forbes Road, Faversham, on Sunday following heavy rainfall. Picture: Colin Edwards

“It is not unusual for the soil on graves to settle after the burial and we will arrange with our contractors for them to be topped up.”

The council maintains graves for the first year after they are dug, then subcontracts the work out in the second year as needed.

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