A SPECIAL service has been held in Fewston to mark the reburial of 154 sets of human remains.

The bones, and related funerary objects, were moved from the Church of St Michael and St Lawrence's grounds during the creation of Washburn Heritage Centre.

Known as the Fewston Assemblage, the remains were excavated in 2009 and 2010 by professional archaeologist John Buglass, who painstakingly recorded every item - right down to single shroud pins.

The Diocese of Leeds then granted permission for an extended period of research to be carried out, which has now come to an end.

More than 100 people gathered at the church last Thursday, September 15, for a commemoration service and the final, symbolic reburial of one set of unnamed remains in a specially made wicker coffin.

More than 30 living descendants, including some who had travelled from Kent and Jersey, were among those who attended.

One, Paul Towers, said: "It was great to see everyone again and even meet people from the Darnbrook family, whom I have only ever corresponded with."

Another, Otley resident Mervyn Lister, added: "I feel that I can speak for all the living descendants when I say that we all, collectively, thank the many people who have been involved with this special undertaking for their work, consideration and respect throughout."

The researchers had a lot of social history to complement their work from living descendants of, and archives about, well-known individuals like John Dickinson - aka Timble Man.

The Heritage Lottery Fund provided £63,000 towards the research, carried out by osteoarchaeologists from the Universities of Durham and York and York Osteoarchaeology Ltd.

Their work was complemented by 15 volunteers who built up detailed accounts about different aspects of life in the Washburn Valley, including child labour at West House Mill, Blubberhouses.

The commemoration service included an 1805 hymn, Star of Day, and the traditional elegy Flowers of Knaresborough Forest.

It also featured a specially composed overview of the history of the valley with words and music by Ken Fackrell, one of the volunteer researchers.

Mr Fackrell's piece, performed unaccompanied at the grave side, featured the refrain:

“We stand here in a speck of time,

We remember those who are gone;

We think of all the people who lived, worked and died

And of those who are yet to come."