In 2019, Ross Sledger’s home renovation in Wye, Kent, unexpectedly turned into a crime investigation. While a builder worked on a kitchen addition, he unearthed bones that appeared human. Initially dismissing the find as animal remains, Sledger soon learned the bones were potentially human.

The discovery led to an investigation involving around ten officers. They found remains of a second body, including a femur, two skulls, ribs, part of a pelvis, and fragments of a humerus and finger bones. The site was initially treated as a crime scene, requiring overnight monitoring.

Specialists later determined the remains were of Anglo-Saxon origin, approximately 1,000 years old. This conclusion shifted the focus from a potential modern crime to historical significance, allowing the renovation to continue without long delays.

During subsequent garden work, Sledger found more skeletal fragments, prompting further examination. Eventually, the remains transferred to a historical society and then to a local vicar. Arranging the final resting place required some bureaucratic processes.

In August, a ceremony at a church near Sledger’s home re-interred the remains. The hymn “Jerusalem” was selected as a tribute. This incident is one of the intriguing historical discoveries in UK backyards.

Another couple in Hampshire discovered 70 historic English coins while gardening in 2020. These coins were auctioned in November 2025 for over £380,000.