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Summary

Burial ground for the medieval hospital of St Bartholomew, of unknown exact extent although burials have been found on several occasions

Associated Legal Designations or Protected Status

• Conservation Area: Newbury Town Centre
• Scheduled Monument 1005379: LITTEN CHAPEL

Other Statuses and Cross-References

• Berkshire SMR No. (pre 2000): 01389.09.300
  

Monument Type(s):

• INHUMATION CEMETERY (13th century to 16th century - 1215 AD? to 1600 AD?)

Full Description

The Litten cemetery served the medieval hospital of St Bartholomew's between the early 13th century and mid 16th century. Its full extent is unknown, although an area known as 'The Litten' was marked on a triangle of land between Argyle Road and Newtown Road on a plan of 'The City' c1796-1814 <1>. Human remains have been found close to the Litten Chapel on many occasions. The name "Litten" has been associated with burial grounds.

A history of Berkshire published in 1769 described the site as, "an old chapel, now converted into a dwelling house: the burying ground adjoining lies waste", and according to an old inhabitant of Newbury then, when a may-pole was erected many years before, a lot of human bones were found <2>. When Newtown Road was widened in 1825 skeletons were uncovered which were reburied in the garden of the Litten <3> <4>. In 1926 a number of human bones including skulls were found in a pit in front of Litten House during alterations. They were sent to the Anthropological Department of the University of College of Wales for assessment <5>. Apparently yet more bones were found in 1929 and again in 1935 <6>; it is possible that some of these discoveries may be the refinding of bones already buried. In 1980 more human remains were found during building work around the Litten Chapel: one skeleton was uncovered to the south of the Chapel and another within the 1849 building (at the base of the lift shaft) <1>. Skeletons found on the north side of Pound Street may also belong to this cemetery (See MWB16160) <7>.

In 2004 human remains were uncovered beneath the pavements of Pound Street and Newtown Road just outside the Litten garden during highway works. Oxford Archaeology carried out a rescue excavation in July and August. Fifty nine inter-cutting graves and a quantity of charnel bones were revealed; 56 individuals were represented by articulated skeletons, and there were the disarticulated bones of at least 19 further individuals. The burials were all orientated east-west, and there was some evidence recovered for coffins (nails and soil staining). However, there were many inter-cutting graves.

This discovery enabled a rare sample of a medieval hospital population to be scientifically analysed, showing evidence of malnutrition, genetic abnormalities and diseases such as tuberculosis and a single incidence of congenital syphilis.

Following the discovery of the human remains in Pound Street, the GIS polygon for the cemetery has been extended from The Litten garden to cover the road to the north.

Sources and further reading

Related Monuments

Associated Excavations and Fieldwork

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