A mysterious sinkhole has opened up in a Somerset churchyard, swallowing a tomb and revealing a centuries-old secret hidden beneath the earth. The dramatic collapse at All Saints Church in Martock has exposed a 300-year-old underground crypt, sparking both local intrigue and a formal historical investigation.
The Ghoulish Attraction
Since the ground gave way over the weekend, the site has become an unexpected draw for curious visitors. Dozens of people have flocked to the Grade I listed church to catch a glimpse of the subterranean chamber, which has now been fenced off for safety reasons. The collapse saw a box tomb, which previously sat above ground, plunge into a 12-foot hole that opened without warning beneath it.
Unearthing Historical Secrets
Reverend Paul Fillery explained that the crypt is a proper room constructed from Ham stone, a material quarried from only two sites at Ham Hill today. Initial assessments suggest that four individuals from the same family were interred on shelves inside the crypt. "We haven't found any human remains yet," Reverend Fillery stated, adding that the inscription on the tomb is currently unreadable as it had been "reduced to a pile of rubble and earth."
Due to the church's protected Grade I status, a research effort is now underway to officially identify the family using church records. The reverend provided a clue to the crypt's age, noting that a neighbouring tomb dates from 1760, leading experts to believe this one is over three centuries old. He attributed the sinkhole's formation to heavy rain eroding the soil and foundations over a long period.
A Church Steeped in History
This startling discovery adds another layer to the rich history of All Saints Church. The church itself was built over several centuries, with some parts dating back to the 13th century and significant rebuilding works carried out in the 15th and 16th centuries. Thankfully, officials have confirmed that the incident has not caused any damage to the surrounding graves.
