A RAINBOW-COLOURED memorial has been unveiled for 154 people whose remains have been reburied at Fewston.

The remains, including bones and funerary objects, had to be moved from the Church of St Michael and St Lawrence's grounds to allow the creation of the adjoining Washburn Heritage Centre.

They were excavated in 2009 and 2010 by archaeologist John Buglass and then the collection, known as the Fewston Assemblage, was extensively studied for several years before being reburied.

That process was completed last September when a commemoration service was held for the reburial of the final set of remains in the churchyard.

Sally Robinson, who led the Fewston Assemblage Project, also wanted to have a special textile hanging made to remember each of the individuals concerned.

So she enlisted the help of textile artist Maureen Fackrell who designed a multi-coloured work, featuring 154 four-inch squares, and led the 20-strong Washburn Stichers team which went on to make it.

Maureen said: "I have been involved in the research for the Fewston Assemblage Project for the past two years.

"My textile work is about family and memory, and so the opportunity to make this commemorative piece was very satisfying.

"The team of Washburn Stitchers has thoroughly enjoyed the project, and has made a beautiful tribute to the Assemblage."

Each square features a design chosen to reflect the life and times of those whose graves were excavated - including flowers, vegetables and farm animals and religious symbols.

Some pieces, representing the graves which contained named individuals, also have those names embroidered onto the squares.

The panel is on permanent display in the Heritage Centre's tearoom and is part of a larger exhibition of the Fewston Assemblage Project, which runs until the end of April.

Sally added: "It's a really beautiful creation and well worth folk coming to look at."

The churchyard excavation was originally only expected to find about 50 graves but ended up discovering more than triple that amount.

Fourteen headstones had to be moved and 22 of the 154 sets of remains were positively identified, though most remain unknown.

Osteoarchaeologists believe some were children and young people who may have worked in local mills in the Washburn Valley more than 200 years ago.

The Assemblage project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund with additional support from the Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation.