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Fife exhumation project bigger than expected

Exhumation expert Peter Mitchell in the grounds of Abbotshall Church.
Exhumation expert Peter Mitchell in the grounds of Abbotshall Church.

Fife Council had to exhume nearly twice the expected number of bodies from a Kirkcaldy kirkyard.

Last year it was revealed bodies would have to be moved from their graves to allow a dangerous wall at Abbotshall Church to be repaired.

The local authority was given the legal go-ahead to exhume bones from their ancient lairs in the historic churchyard as it was feared the boundary wall was at risk of collapsing on to the adjoining pavement, which lies at a much lower level.

Exhumation expert Peter Mitchell, who has project managed the exhumation of more than 30,000 human remains around the world, was drafted in to carry out the sensitive work with dignity.

At the start of the year he arrived in Fife to oversee the intricate work which saw his team and Fife Council staff work in parallel to take down the damaged wall stone-by-stone as bodies were exhumed on the other side.

Records had initially indicated the team would be exhuming 33 bodies, but in fact a total of 60 had to be brought up.

The council always knew that there was a risk that the records of those interred, many dating back hundreds of years, would not be complete.

All the remains have now been re-interred in the lairs where they were found.

The project, which was due to last for 12 weeks, is now running behind schedule by six weeks.

It is estimated that another three weeks will be needed for completion.

But there is good news for drivers as the temporary traffic control system was taken down last week and there should be no more disruption to traffic.

Ross Tulloch, the lead professional for civil and structural engineering, said: “We’re running behind scheduled with the works on Abbotshall Road, as we needed to carry out more exhumations than first anticipated.

“Work is progressing well, and the re-interment of remains is now complete.”

He added that the majority of the wall has now been rebuilt and the soil reinstated behind it.

Some high level masonry is still to be completed.