Monument record MLI22218 - Burial Ground, St Peter's Chapel, Holbeach

Summary

Burial ground, St Peter's Chapel, Holbeach.

Type and Period (3)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

A mound, near the west of Holbeach station yard on the north side of the railway and about 0.75 mile from the parish church, was levelled in 1867. On the south side of the mound, about 18 ins below the surface, was a large quantity of skulls, which had been collected and moved to the spot 100-150 years previously. Nearer the centre were human bones, not laid in order, and about the centre, pottery (apparently medieval), charcoal, sand, and burnt bones were seen. Near the surface on the Wignal Gate side were other complete skeletons and a spur. The then vicar of Holbeach, the Rev Arthur Brook, bought the land, re-interred the bones, remade the mound, and placed a cross on top. Stukeley describes the site of the former St Peters Chapel as 'in Wignals Gate near Holbeach Hall by the riverside' about 1719 he saw a number of corpses dug up in the chapel yard. These were probably the skulls found in the mound in 1867, and the chapel perhaps stood a little nearer the old river. Wignal's is published at TF34632453, Hall Gate at TF35352434, and Old River at TF35462366. There is no evidence for the site recently published on OS 6inch map. {1}{2}{3}{4} St Peter's Chapel, Holbeach was in existence before 1190. {5} The published site, in use as a bulb field, is now under scratch ploughing. No finds are known locally, no surface evidence of mound. The site of St Paul's Chapel was not established. {6} 'In 1868 in a piece of ground adjoining the railway and not far from the spot described by Stukeley, some workmen came upon a large deposit of human remains, as many as 130 skeletons being discovered. Some fragments of pottery, a knife with a bronze handle, a spur and buckle were also found, and along with these, wood ashes, charcoal etc. From the size of the skeletons and the whiteness of the teeth, it is supposed they were the bodies of those slain in battle. The pottery was pronounced by Canon Greenwell to be early medieval in date. There was a find of a skull at 35 Hallgate. {7}{8}{9} Human bones, including skulls, found over several years at 25 Hall Gate at TF 35758 24414. Remains are also reported from the station yard beyond the garden. It is also said that during groundworks for sewerage pipes in the mid 1970's at the house masonry rubble was found. {10}

Sources/Archives (10)

  •  Index: OS CARD INDEX. HOLBEACH. TF 31 SE:1,1965, D.A..
  •  Article in Serial: FOSTER W E. 1887. PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES. VOL 12 2ND SER P 41.
  •  Article in Serial: THOMPSON, A.H.. 1887. PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES. VOL 12 2ND SER P 42-3.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: STUKELEY, W.. 1724. ITINERARIUM CURIOSUM. VOL 1 P 20.
  •  Article in Serial: Dorothy M. Owen. 1975. 'Medieval Chapels in Lincolnshire' in Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. vol. 10, p.19.
  •  Index: SMR FILE HOLBEACH. HOLBEACH. TF 32 SE:D,1979, WHITE, A.J..
  •  Verbal Communication: Bonnor, J.. 1997. -.
  •  Verbal Communication: HEALEY, R.H.. 1997. Verbal report from Hilary Healey. -.
  •  Report: ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT SERVICES. 1997. REAPPRAISAL OF HOLBEACH CONSERVATION AREA. 23/97; HCA97.
  •  Correspondence: Howard, Mr Ivan Henry. March 2001. Correspondence from Mr Howard. -.

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Location

Grid reference Centred TF 3575 2436 (112m by 109m) Estimated from sources
Civil Parish HOLBEACH, SOUTH HOLLAND, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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