A WOMAN has traced the lost grave of one of her ancestors to a historic Ribble Valley abbey.

Authoress Ann Remington, who has been researching her family tree for 30 years, discovered she was related to William Rymyngton, a former prior of Sawley Abbey in the 1370s.

His bones were buried in the south transept there but the grave's exact location was unknown for years.

However, Ann pinpointed the spot recently on the 850th anniversary of the abbey.

Information will be erected at the graveside for visitors to the famous old building.

She said: "The prior was a national figure and was chancellor of Oxford University in the 1370s."

She is now appealing for the public to help her locate her ancestor's bones which she believes may have been the ones removed from a grave during excavation work at the abbey in the 1970s. She said: "If I could locate them I would be prepared to do a DNA test to prove that the remains are those of my descendant.

"My family still has his ring."

Sawley Abbey was founded in 1147 during which time another of Ann ancestors, Norman, son of Uctred, gave some land in Rimington to the abbey.

Ann said: "It is amazing that someone of lineal descent to Norman and the prior should be around in 1997 and still caring."

She has travelled throughout Yorkshire and Lancashire tracing her family tree and is currently compiling a book on her findings.

Her research has taken her back to 1065 and she is one of the few people to discover she has an English ancestor before the Norman Conquest.

Ann said: "My father told me many wonderful stories about the past and I was keen to learn more.

"He was a super man and I wanted to know what stock he came from."

Ann lives in London with her husband Max and compiles crosswords for the Yorkshire Post.

Anyone who may know the whereabouts of the bones should contact Ann on 0181 769 5435.

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