A large sinkhole opened up unexpectedly at All Saints' Church cemetery in Martock, Somerset, revealing an ancient underground crypt believed to date back to before the 1700s. The hole, approximately 12 feet wide, appeared on Saturday, November 8, exposing a collapsed tomb and scattered rubble.
Photographs from the site show fragments of the crypt visible through the sinkhole, which has since been cordoned off with safety barriers to protect visitors. The extent of ground instability in the surrounding area remains uncertain.
Martock Parish Council issued a warning to the public: “Please be aware there is a collapsed grave at the entrance to the churchyard. Safety barriers are in place, please take extreme care when walking.”
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Reverend Paul Fillery of All Saints Church told the BBC that church officials are collaborating with the parish council and diocesan experts to determine the safest approach to repairs. “We will ensure the area is securely protected until all essential work is completed,” he said. The discovery has already drawn numerous curious visitors to the historic site.
This unexpected event occurred just a day before Remembrance Sunday services at the church, which is the second largest parish church in Somerset. All Saints' Church, a Grade I listed building, dates back to the 13th century and is believed to have origins predating 1156.