Are the ghosts of Quakers’ past or ancient Roman curses to blame for the delayed expansion of Kingston town centre’s Primark store?

The budget clothes chain has owned the former Quaker meeting house and cemetery in Eden Street since 2012 and had planned to almost double the size of its store with an extension.

But building work never began despite planning permission being agreed three years ago.

As well as the Quaker burial ground that dates back to the 1700s, a human skull from 1000BC, a small Roman altar and a number of curses written on strips of lead have all been found at the site previously.

Chairman of the Quaker project committee Graham Torr said he thought all the bodies had been moved to Surbiton Cemetery in 2010 when the group was transferring to its new base in Fairfield East.

Surrey Comet:

Quakers are known for their plain dress and opposition to slavery and there is now speculation that more Quaker bodies have been found at the former cemetery.

Mr Torr said: “I have no idea why they haven’t expanded yet.

“It is very confusing. “We went through the process of exhuming the remains very thoroughly and tried our best to inform all living relatives.

“Quakers are very good at keeping records, but there was one body that we could not find.”

An archaeological assessment published in 1998 by Kingston Council stated that in the Middle Ages Eden Street was called Heathen Street because of the “low status of the inhabitants”.

It said: “The name is thought to have originated from the residents of this area in the medieval period, who would have been involved in dirty trades such as slaughter men [and] skinners.

A 1989 archaeological excavation at the rear of the building “revealed approximately 350 Roman coins, jewellery and rolled lead strips (possibly curses),” according to the report.

Mystery surrounding the postponement was further emphasised when a Primark spokeswoman would only say “factors” were to blame, and the company, which made £2.3bn in profits in the first quarter of last year, would expand the store “early next year”.

She added: “The store expansion was set to start earlier, however, a number of factors led to a change in timing.

“Primark will not be commenting further on this expansion.”

Many Kingston councillors have also said they are confused by the delay. Kingston Council leader Kevin Davis said: “I know they got planning permission a long time ago, so I have no idea why it has not gone ahead yet."