SHOCKING DISCOVERY: Over 300 Bodies Found in MASS GRAVE—What They Don’t Want You to Know!

In a chilling discovery, over 300 bodies, including those of stillborn babies and young children, have been found in a mass grave at Royton Cemetery, Oldham. The grave, a 12x12ft plot, contains a tragic mix of stillborn babies, infants, and some adults, with most of the remains dating back to the 1960s. The unsettling revelation has left the community grappling with grief and anger.

This discovery was brought to light by a woman searching for her twin brothers, one of whom died at birth in 1962. The other passed just five hours after being born. Her heartbreaking search led her to the mass grave in Royton, where she learned that her brothers were buried among hundreds of others. This discovery has since opened the door to more investigations, with several additional mass graves found in the cemetery.

Councilor

Maggie Hurley, who has been assisting with the case, recounted the moment she learned about the grave. She was called to meet a caretaker, who arrived with a large ledger detailing the names of those buried in the mass plot. “This is the biggest thing I have ever faced as a councillor. I’ve gone through every emotion from anger to hate – to absolute devastation,” she said. “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.”

The woman who initially uncovered the grave had been told one of her brothers was definitely in the grave but that he “was not alone.” The sheer magnitude of this discovery has raised questions about the burial practices of the time and how many other unnamed babies might still lie in unmarked graves across the country.

Hurley has since helped identify four more mass graves within Royton Cemetery, each containing hundreds more bodies, most of them stillborn or infant children. These graves span different sections of the cemetery, including areas designated for Catholic, non-conformist, and Church of England burials. As more families come forward, there is growing concern about how many similar graves remain hidden.

Families impacted by this discovery have expressed a mix of grief and disbelief. Some, like a group of three sisters, recently learned that their brother, who they were told had been buried alongside a “nice lady,” was actually placed in a mass grave with over 300 others. The emotional toll has been profound, with families devastated by the loss and by the way their loved ones were buried. “They haven’t been able to sleep or process what is happening,” Hurley said, describing the scene as the sisters laid flowers at the grave.

The mass grave, which contains the remains of 146 stillborn babies, 128 infants, and 29 adults, was last used in 1987. Families whose loved ones were buried there had little to no involvement in the funeral arrangements, a practice common before the mid-1980s. According to the charity Sands, parents were rarely consulted on the burial of stillborn babies or children who died during childbirth during that time.

The shocking revelation has ignited a call for greater recognition of those buried in mass graves. Councillors Hurley and Jade Hughes have pushed for commemorative plaques to honor the memory of the stillborn babies and children, saying in a joint statement: “It’s a stark injustice that parents were denied the fundamental right to bury their babies, a right that should be inherent and unquestionable.”

Oldham Council leader Arooj Shah acknowledged the discovery, emphasizing that this practice was not uncommon during that era. “Sadly, the burying of people, including babies and children, in unmarked graves happened in graveyards all around the country years ago,” Shah said, adding that modern burial practices have since improved, with public graves no longer being used and government funding now available for stillborn funerals.

While the mass graves may not have been newly discovered, the emotional weight of their existence has left a lasting impact on the families involved. For them, the priority now is ensuring that their loved ones, though buried decades ago, are finally given the recognition they deserve. As Hurley stated, “We cannot change what has happened, but we can ensure that the babies born sleeping are named, recognised, and never forgotten.”

The discovery has prompted discussions about how the cemetery can memorialize those buried there, ensuring future generations understand the heartache of past burial practices.