Sites

Prestwich Primary School is situated on the site of the old Lutheran Cemetery which was granted in 1833 as a formal burial ground. Prior to its formalisation as a cemetery the site would have conceivably formed part of the informal burial ground. Immediately opposite the school lies Prestwich Place (the Rockwell), where the remains of up to 3000 people were found (1 person per square meter) outside of any known historically demarcated cemetery. Furthermore, human remains have been recently found adjacent to the school under Prestwich Street showing that this pattern was not confined to the Rockwell site.  Artefacts found on the site included simple iron grave markers, casket handles, one coin and four eyelets, (these suggest burials in sail cloth or canvas). A human tooth that was found had copper staining, which may indicate a coin being placed in the mouth. This was on all accounts an austere cemetery, with the burials placed in neat rows. Little evidence of burial vaults was observed in the excavation, yet it is known that they were present on the periphery of the cemetery.