AN early crypt will be the topic at a forthcoming meeting of a town group.
Fiona Keith-Lucas will give a talk for Kidderminster Historical Society on ‘Dry Bones: Medieval Archaeology from the Charnel House at Worcester Cathedral’ on Thursday, March 26.
The archaeologist at Worcester Cathedral will be revealing the fascinating world of the charnel house at the building.
Just outside the main door to the cathedral lies an underground chamber full of human bones.
In the 13th century it became quite common to store bones displaced from large churchyards in a crypt with a chapel above.
Here, a priest would say prayers for the souls of the dead stacked neatly below.
Worcester’s charnel crypt was the earliest in the country and it’s also the only one still in use today.
Any archaeological skeletal remains are still laid to rest there on top of seven feet of medieval bones.
Fiona has a long background in below-ground and buildings archaeology.
She worked at Historical Royal Palaces as archaeological curator and now holds a full-time position at the cathedral.
Ongoing maintenance and development mean there is always something new to uncover in this historical complex.
Society meetings start at 2.30pm and are still held in The Old Museum of Carpet Building, Stour Vale Mill, Green Street.
There is a small charge for visitors who are most welcome and asked to book to ensure a seat.
More information about the society and how to book can be found on the website kdahs.org or Facebook page KidderminsterHistoricalSociety.
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