Friday 16 October 2009

'They were huge..it looked like a pterodactyl': Riddle of bones found in British Legion basement

16 October 2009
By Victoria Williams

POLICE were called to the Halifax Royal British Legion headquarters after large bones were discovered in the basement. Workers feared they could be human. One of the builders said: "They were huge – like a pterodactyl."

Officers cordoned off the area and spent an hour investigating before deciding the bones probably came from a cow or a horse.

The bones were discovered in the listed building attached to Hopwood Hall, Halifax – which dates back to the 1730s – where builders are carrying out £170,000 renovations.

Site manager Steve Oxley said he thought the room at the front of the building, where the animal remains were found, had originally been a stable.

Malcolm Wilson, one of the builders who discovered the bones, said: "They were very rotten – I would guess well over 100 years old.

"There were four or five of us digging away. At first we thought we'd come across a tree trunk but then we noticed a joint.
Human

"I've stumbled upon human bones before when working at churches and it crossed my mind these could be human too.

"But then we started digging around the bones and discovered the skeleton was huge. It looked like a pterodactyl."

Police confirmed they were called to the building in Hopwood Lane after the discovery.

Work to transform the British Legion base in Hopwood Lane started in August.

It is being revamped to include a computer suite, function room and private interview area.

The renovation has been funded by Calderdale Council with help from the Heritage Lottery and the national Royal British Legion.

It should be finished by the end of the year.

http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/39They-were-hugeit-looked-like.5740051.jp

(Submitted by Tim Chapman)

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