We thought we’d found dead pet under our patio – then we realised the bones were human

A couple having their house renovated were unnerved when builders found human bones under their patio.

The remains were discovered at Ross and Claire Sledger’s home in Wye, near Ashford, when they were having an extension built in 2019.

Workers found the bones and police were called to investigate what was feared could be a grisly murder scene.

They found a femur, two skulls, ribs and part of a pelvis, as well as fragments of a humerus and finger bones.

Six years on, the bones, which are thought to be around 1,000 years old – have finally been laid to rest after examinations revealed they were Anglo-Saxon, dating from the period between the fifth and 11th centuries.

Ross, 49, says the couple moved out of their home while police carried out excavation works, which lasted three days. ‘Builders were doing our extension and Claire called me to say they’ve found some bones and my first thought was it was someone’s pet,’ he said.

‘A builder had actually found several, but it wasn’t until we saw a femur which raised alarm bells as you could see it was human.

‘By the following day we had 24/7 observation on the site because they thought it could be a murder scene. Police were just sieving  top soil, but when you have five police cars outside your house in a little village word did get around quite quickly.

‘We ended up leaving the house so those investigating could get on with it. We went to a friend’s house and that’s when we were told on the phone they found a second body on the third day.’

More than 25 people attended the service at St Gregory and St Martin Church, which began with the singing of William Blake’s Jerusalem.

Reverend Ravi Holy, rector of the church, confirmed the identities of both bodies remain unknown, but said villagers should still have the opportunity to pay their respects.

‘Ross and Claire are a lovely couple in the village and it was obviously a shock to them,’ he said. ‘But once we knew more information and discovered they were Anglo-Saxon bones, we wanted to do something and that’s why we’ve had the service.

‘I’m absolutely delighted with the turnout and how it’s gone. Everyone who lives in Wye is generally proud of living here and they enjoy their history.’

Historians say Bridge Street had been developed for housing in the 1930s, and a number of skeletons were found during that work.

Mrs Sledger, 48, who runs The Sawyers bar in Bridge Street, says their neighbour had also discovered a sword and other bones shortly after the 2019 discovery.

When asked how she feels about the bones being laid to rest, she said: ‘It’s taken a long time to discover what they were and whether they were going to be archived.

‘It’s been a lovely service and knowing the bones will be in the churchyard is nice so everyone can pay their respects here, rather than at our house.’