Sat by the River Thames, the Tower of London is one of Britain’s most iconic and storied landmarks. Originally built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, this formidable fortress has served many roles throughout its nearly thousand-year history, including a royal palace, prison, armoury, treasury and even a zoo.
Now, an exciting excavation project is underway in a corner near the White Tower, the oldest part of the complex, behind what looks like a mundane plywood door. During this project, the biggest excavation done at the castle in 40 years, dozens of bodies have been found within the foundations laid down over many centuries. These bones are not believed to belong to lords and ladies who once walked the Tower’s halls, but to ordinary people who lived and worked there.
The project has been described as “hugely important” by Alfred Hawkins, curator of historic buildings at Historic Royal Palaces, according to The Times: “At the palace we have evidence for what Henry VIII did and what Edward I did — but what we don’t know about is people who were living, working, worshipping and dying at the Tower.”
The dig is at the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, the final resting place of people such as Thomas More, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, all of whom were executed on Henry VIII’s orders.
This dig, however, has explored some three and a half metres underground, revealing parts of the ancient fabric of the castle that date to the 12th century and the Tower’s beginnings.
“It is literally a generational opportunity. Historic Royal Palaces have never done an excavation like this and we won’t do it again,” Mr Hawkins said, adding that HRP was running the dig with Pre-Construct Archaeology, an independent firm, with advice from Historic England.
A test dig six years ago uncovered two bodies but there are said to be at least 25 burials in the small area which runs the width of the chapel. In fact, the remains of as many as 50 people are believed to have been uncovered. While the Tower is synonymous with brutal deaths like the beheadings of Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Lady Jane Grey, it appears these bodies did not have a violent end.
Some of the bodies may have been early victims of the plague. The burials were “rushed” and appear to be from the 14th century. If this hypothesis is correct, the burials were before Edward III laid down strict rules for how to treat the plague dead. DNA testing will show if they died from the Black Death.
The Black Death reached London in 1348 and had a devastating impact. Caused by the bubonic plague, it was spread by fleas carried by rats. Within months, the disease killed up to half of London’s population, overwhelming graveyards and collapsing basic city services. This was one of the deadliest events in London’s history.
Meanwhile, other bodies unearthed in the dig appear to have been treated more carefully. One of the discoveries includes grave goods in the form of jars akin to incense burners, filled with charcoal, which was a custom from Norman Europe. This may indicate a member of the ruling class or a foreign traveller.
There have also been results from two Tudor bodies that were found in 2019. One was a woman, aged between 35 and 50, whose burial in a coffin suggested high status as coffins were typically reserved for processional use. This theory has been backed by isotopic analysis that suggests she had a good diet. Next to her was a boy of about 13, who appears to have been born outside London and was unwell.
Beyond bones, the archaeologists have also discovered stained and painted glass, sewing needles, a pendant, a ring and four cannon balls.