Church mistakenly sells medieval tombstone to scrapyard
Wednesday, November 14, 2001
Church officials in Dorset are trying to retrieve a medieval tombstone they mistakenly sold to a scrap merchant.

It's thought the two-metre-long carved stone from Christchurch Priory marked the grave of a 12th Century knight.

It was among two tonnes of old stone sold to salvage yard owner Mike Winfield who says he bought it in good faith and refuses to return it.

Mr Winfield told The Times: "Basically it is up for sale if anybody wants to make me an offer for it."

It was spotted in the scrap yard by a local history enthusiast.

Mr Winfield said: "I don't even think the priory knew it existed until then. If they'd just said, 'Sorry we didn't mean this stone,' then I might have given it back - but they practically accused me of stealing it."

No-one from the priory wanted to comment.

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