Archaeologists are to launch an investigation to find the site where a circus elephant is said to have been buried in a South Gloucestershire town more than 130 years ago. Local legend suggests the elephant, possibly named Nancy, was buried in Kingswood in 1891.
The animal belonged to Bostock and Wombwell’s menagerie as a highlight in its travelling “beast show”. Members of Wessex Archaeology are to conduct a geophysical survey in a bid to identify the burial site which is said to be in the area of Whitefield’s Tabernacle or Holy Trinity Church.
Tom Richardson, terrestrial geophysicist at Wessex Archaeology, said: “Searching for Victorian elephant burials isn’t our usual fare but a grave of that size would leave a large hole and would certainly be identifiable with the Ground Penetrating Radar equipment we will be using to survey the site.”
