Parish Burial Ground

Great Wakering Parish Burial Ground is situated behind St. Nicholas Churchyard Great Wakering. The layout of the site was largely inspired by the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Each grave is laid in an avenue of level grass and may, if required be marked at the head by a memorial comprising of a headstone (made of natural stone) set on base. Applications to acquire rights of burial or erect a headstone should be made to the Parish Council Office via funeral directors or monumental masons.

The whole area, including the Parish Church of St Nicholas, is rich in archaeology and history. The Life of St Mildrith refers to a church (monasterium Wacrinense) at Great Wakering that was said to be the burial place of two Kentish princes (Aethelberht and Aethelred) in the late 7th century.

In the Summer of 2000 Essex County Council's Field Archaeology Unit carried out a full excavation of the land adjacent to St Nicholas Church Burial Ground. An exciting array of artefacts were found including evidence of Neolithic, Roman, Saxon, Medieval and Post-Medieval occupation.

These excavations revealed evidence of occupation dating to the 7th century and this elaborately carved fragment of limestone is one probable example from this early medieval church. The limestone exhibit is currently on display at Southend-on-Sea Museum.

Other significant finds include:

• Late Iron Age Vessel From A Cremation Pit
• Roman Flagon From An Inhumation Burial
• Roman Samian Vessels

Pictures of some more finds from these excavation works can be viewed in our Photo Gallery.