Monument record MDO3876 - Sub-Roman Christian cemetery at Langham, Gillingham

According to Hutchins at least one hundred extended skeletons recorded during the quarrying of limestone near Langham; the date of discovery is not recorded. The burials were arranged at 2 feet intervals about 3 feet below the surface, with heads to the west, and are interpreted as a possible sub Roman inhumation cemetery.

Finds & archive ref: Thurnam Skull Catalogue no. 271, "Old English from an anceint cemetery..at Langham…presented by T. Thompson". Possible excavation? (Shipp and Hodson 1868)

Inhumation Burials (? About 778262), probably a sub-Roman Christian cemetery, found while quarrying limestone near Langham, on level ground some 350 ft above sea-level; the date of discovery is not recorded. At least a hundred skeletons were arranged at 2 ft intervals about 3 ft below the surface, with heads to the west. Two brooches and some small sherds of rough pottery were found. (RCHME 1972)

Local tradition associates the finding of burials within an area of disturbed pastureland centred at ST 778263. The date of the discovery could not be ascertained. (Barrett 1977)

Thurnam, John, Collection of Anatomy and early British Prehistoric skeletons, No 271 (Index). SDO21989.

A skull recorded by John Thurnam as catalogue number 271, reportedly from the Langham cemetery, still survives in Cambridge University's Duckworth Collections as specimen Eu.1.00.43.

Historic England, National Record of the Historic Environment, 202322 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Barrett, G, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator's Comments GB, F1 GB 13-AUG-77 (Unpublished document). SDO17369.

John Hutchins, edited by Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W, 1868, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 3, 662 (Monograph). SDO11486.

Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 35-36 (Monograph). SDO99.

'(101) INHUMATION BURIALS (? About 778262), probably a sub-Roman Christian cemetery, were found while quarrying limestone near Langham, on level ground some 350 ft. above sea level (Hutchins III, 662); the date of discovery is not recorded. At lease a hundred extended skeletons were arranged at 2 ft. intervals about 3 ft. below the surface, with heads to the west. Two brooches and some small sherds of rough pottery were found.'

Record last edited

Oct 14 2026 10:05AM