Funeral for mystery baby found beneath floor

Almost two years ago, the skeleton of a baby was found beneath floorboards during a house renovation, wrapped in a 110-year-old newspaper. Today, the mystery boy was properly laid to rest.

On top of a grassy hill in the corner of the town cemetery, a pink cherry blossom tree stands guard over a huddle of small, colourful graves.

This is where the children of Bishop Auckland are buried and remembered.

Moments after the 12:53 train service to Saltburn trundles by beyond the fence, a new coffin is added to the sad collection.

The polished silver name-plate on the white box, so small it only needs one undertaker to carry it, reads Baby Auckland, a name given to him by the authorities.

What happened to the boy is a mystery.

He was found in July 2024 beneath the floorboards of a Victorian-era building on Fore Bondgate by workmen during a renovation.

The skeleton was wrapped in an edition of The Umpire newspaper from Sunday 19 June 1910 and had a brown twine knotted around his neck.

Durham Police launched a probe, led by Det Ch Insp Mel Sutherland.

A painstaking three days were spent examining the skeleton in situ before he was removed, with all but a small toe bone recovered.

Further tests were done by a pathologist and forensic anthropologist, but a cause of death could not be ascertained.

In a bid to try and identify the baby, DNA testing was carried out to see if he matched with several members of the public who, after hearing of the discovery, came forward to say they were related to the building's previous occupants.

"Unfortunately, it didn't match," Sutherland says, adding: "That was a bit of a disheartening moment."

What they did discover was the baby was a boy, full-term at about 40 weeks who lived and died before the advent of the nuclear age, which began in the 1940s with the US's testing of the atom bomb.

At an inquest hearing last month, it was revealed carbon dating estimated he most likely lived between 1726 and 1812, which only deepened the mystery further as that meant he pre-dated the paper he was wrapped in by 98 years as well as the building where he had been concealed.

Sutherland says the data actually paints a broader timespan and his belief is the baby lived and died in 1910, which will be the date inscribed on the child's headstone when it is erected in a few months time.

"I wouldn't like to speculate," he says when asked if has a working theory for what happened to the boy, but ensuring Baby Auckland has a proper "send-off" is vital.

"Every life is worth celebrating and respecting," he says. "When we investigate baby death, they've never had a voice, they've never been able to tell their story, and the truth dies with them.

"I feel it's my responsibility to give the baby the voice."

The detective is one of half a dozen or so dignitaries attending the simple 10-minute long ceremony, led by Durham County Council celebrant Gemma Dobson.

"Though we do not know the details of their days, we stand here knowing something simple - this child was here and this child is worthy of love, dignity and rest," she says.

"Today, Baby Auckland is not alone."

Most of the attendees are journalists, but among the throng is Janet Atkinson, a resident of the town.

She is wearing a blue scarf in honour of the boy who died decades before she was even born.

"Since Baby Auckland was found, I have followed his story and I wanted to come and pay my respects," she says.

"In his very short life he may not have known love, but he is loved and respected now.

"The people of Bishop Auckland are compassionate, this beautiful baby boy will never be forgotten."