Monument record WSH 007 - Church of St Mary

St Mary's Church, Washbrook otherwise Great Belstead (Vicarage). Nave (Norman), chancel and W tower.
1066, Lands of the Countess of Albamarle: Belesteda 'A church with 34 acres of free land' (S1).

Archaeological monitoring was undertaken of draining works over three visits. The first visited coincided with the excavation of the soakaway pit revealed a layer of cobbles and brick fragments of a former pathway. The second visits confirmed the depth of the excavated trench would not impact human remains buried along the western boundary of the churchyard. The third visit was undertaken following the discovery of human remains and a brick tomb along the south church and south west corner of the porch. The brick tomb was of 18th to 19th century date and its top was close to the current ground surface. Due to the tombs position blocking the line of the drain run, it was agreed with the diocesan archaeologist that the top of the tomb could be broken and the tomb reduced, after being filled with pea-shingle to avoided damaging the human remains. Any Human skeletal material recovered form the Drian trench was collected and bagged for reburial within the churchyard. Not impact was made on the fabric of the existing church and no unknown structural elements of earlier building phases were located (S2).