Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Ancient graves could be disturbed as part of Inverkeithing Townhouse refurbishment

The work will take place at Inverkeithing Townhouse but could affect the adjacent cemetery.
The work will take place at Inverkeithing Townhouse but could affect the adjacent cemetery.

Ancient graves could be disturbed at a Fife church during refurbishment of the historic Inverkeithing Townhouse, it has been revealed.

Detailed preparations are being made for the expected discovery of human remains when work gets under way on transforming the Grade A-listed building.

The vacant property, built in 1770, is to become a new community hub.

The existing three-storey building has no disabled access so the refurbishment will include the installation of a lift.

Ancient graves in Inverkeithing Parish Church are likely to be disturbed.

However, that will involve disturbing of a number of ancient graves at the adjacent Inverkeithing Parish Church.

Fife Historic Buildings Trust, which is overseeing the project, says that strict protocols will be in place throughout to handle any disturbed graves with sensitivity.

But heritage officers admit it is still not clear just how many graves may be disturbed when the project gets underway in 2022.

Work to be carried out ‘respectfully’

In a statement, the trust said: “Fife Historic Buildings Trust, architects and the Town House steering group have been planning this carefully over many months to ensure the works are carried out respectfully.

“All digging in the graveyard will be in line with legal requirements and consents – the work has planning and listed building consent.

“Advice has been taken from archaeologists and from bereavement services to develop a detailed methodology for carrying out these works, which the contractor will have to follow.

“In addition, digging will be carried out by archaeologists with experience of working in graveyards.

“This will be detailed work, approached carefully with the expectation of finding human remains.

Human remains found will be re-interred

“Any gravestones disturbed will be carefully set aside and re-set afterwards, in the original location where possible, or otherwise nearby in the graveyard.

“Any human remains disturbed will be handled sensitively, set aside, and re-interred after the works are complete.”

The trust added: “We have worked with Inverkeithing Parish Church, who have given their support to the works, and agreed with them that if the remains cannot be re-interred on site, they will be re-interred at Hillend Cemetery.

“The parish church will hold a service to mark the re-interment, and a record will be left on site of the removal and any known names, to help with future family history research.”

The historic Grade-A listed Inverkeithing Townhouse is to be transformed into a community hub.

The £475,000 project will breathe new life into the Town House, which has lain empty for several years.

It also forms part of a wider project of improvements to Inverkeithing’s historic centre.

A major overhaul of the streetscape, including new paving – as well as the restoration of the Mercat Cross – are also to be completed.