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Summary

Three tombs revealed during an archaeological excavation in 1992

Associated Legal Designations or Protected Status

• Conservation Area: Newbury Town Centre
• Listed Building (I) 1219556: PARISH CHURCH OF ST NICHOLAS (ERROR IN NAME)

Other Statuses and Cross-References

• Berkshire SMR No. (pre 2000): 04191.00.000
  

Monument Type(s):

• COFFIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• INHUMATION (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• VAULT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Full Description

EVALUATION IN 1992 REMOVED CHURCH FLOOR AND FLOOR FOUNDATION WHICH WAS .5m ABOVE MID-19th CENT DEPOSITS. BENEATH THE FLOOR FOUNDATION THE GROUND WAS THICK GREY-BROWN WITH DECAYED COFFIN DEBRIS AND DISTURBED SKELETAL MATERIAL. ALSO REMAINS OF TWO BRICK BUILT TOMBS. THE SOUTHERN TOMB CONTAINED AT LEAST ONE INHUMATION. A PRE-16th FLINT E-W WALL WAS FOUND

During an evaluation ahead of the installation of a new heating system in 1992, a trench was excavated in the north-west corner of the church. Within a thick, disturbed layer containing coffin remains and skeletal material were the remains of two brick-built tombs parallel to the north wall of the north aisle. Tomb 108 was the more complete of the two and comprised a single, rectangular, brick-lined chamber. Its contents had already been removed and this was suggested to have taken place when the church's current floor was constructed in around 1866. Tomb 105 lay to the south of Tomb 108 and had cut an earlier grave (103) and wall (121). It was robustly constructed at its northern end in Flemish garden wall style, but its western end was built with only a single line of bricks. It contained at least one inhumation. An almost obliterated third tomb (117) built in limestone was observed to the west of Tomb 108, but was too damaged for its form or date to be identified.

It was suggested that the tombs were demolished in the mid-19th century refurbishment of the church.

Sources and further reading

Related Monuments

Associated Excavations and Fieldwork

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