ARCHEOLOGY

It took archaeologists twelve months to excavate the site of the medieval Priory of St Mary Spital and its large cemetery.

The journey through time began as the soil and debris from the 20th century were peeled back to reveal 19th century cobbled streets and then roads and buildings from the 17th century rose up from the grave.

The medieval remains were found over 2 meters down and were remarkably well preserved. From the main cemetery site over 8,600 burials were found including a young man whose legs bore the signs of a terrible childhood injury that had left him disabled for life. He was discovered in a Christian burial pit along with 29 other victims of a 13th century epidemic.

Another burial from this site was the rich young Roman woman, a totally unexpected find from just outside the medieval cemetery.

These two former residents of London illustrate the rich history of the city and its evolution and contrasting fortunes of those that made their homes here. Separated by 1000 years of history, but eventually sharing the same resting place.

CHARNEL HOUSE

The Charnel House was built in the early 1300s as a crypt within the cemetery of St Mary Spital priory.

For more than 200 years it was the repository for bones to be relocated in consecrated ground to allow further burials in the hospital graveyard. Its discovery by the Museum of London Archeological Service has provided Bishops Square with a wonderful window into its historical legacy.

ARTEFACTS

Twelve illuminated artefacts created by Free Form are located throughout Bishops Square, ranging from a cast of a scallop shell taken from the Roman sarcophagus found on site, to a 20th century porter's badge.

This 'museum without walls' has been made possible by the support of the Museum of London's Archeological Service (MoLAS).

www.freeform.org.uk

www.molas.org.uk