Monument record 3980/1/2 - Charnel House, Holy Trinity Church

Medieval charnel chapel probably constructed during the late 13th century and sealed up during the Protestant Reformation, only being rediscovered in about 1700.

{2} Stack of human bones & C15th pottery sherd from charnel house in crypt of church;

{3}Article outlines effects of environmental conditions within crypt on long-term preservation of bones; necessary to clean & rehumidify & treat charnel house;

{4} Of particular popular note is the ‘Bone Crypt’ which was discovered by a grave digger in about 1700 when preparing a grave within the south aisle. It has been suggested that as many as 6,000 individuals are represented by the remains, but more reasonable estimates are of the order of 1500. The favoured explanation as to the source of the human remains is that they derive from the churchyard at times when building work was taking place. Two periods have been suggested as most likely for the origin of the material, in the 13th century when the chancel was lengthened and the north and south aisles extended. The second suggestion, that they date from the 16th century is based on apparently mistaken belief that the Jesus Hospital was built over part of the graveyard. The charnel house is suggested as having been constructed in the early 13th century. Various detailed osteological studies have been carried out on the bones.

{5} The charnel chapel is one of only two such survivals in England (the other being at Hythe, Kent). It appears to have been constructed in the late 13th century and was sealed during the Protestant Reformation, when the practise of charnelling ceased. The remains represent at 2,500 males and females of all ages, including children. The remains are fully decomposed, disarticulated and show staining consistent with being buried for a considerable time. The remains are likely to be derived from disturbed graves in the adjacent medieval cemetery. The research has questioned the suggestion that chapels served a primarily practical rather than liturgical role. At Rothwell, the existence of a permanent staircase, the remains of a wall painting and large windows all suggest a room that was intended to be visited.

Radiocarbon dating of five crania has been undertaken. Three provided dates from the late 13th century to the early 15th centuries. Two further crania provided post-medieval dates, most likely of 18th or 19th century date, which were unexpected given the previous assumption that all charnelling activity pre-dated the Reformation. One of the modern crania shows evidence for anatomisation, probably from an autopsy, which also points to a post-medieval date. The later crania raise questions about more recent interactions with the chapel, which have gone unremarked despite the plethora of antiquarian commentary.

{7} 'the great Multitude of Men and Women’s Sculls that lye heap’d up in the famous Charnel-House at Rowel'

{8} 'Its extreme length is 30 feet 3 inches, and its width is 15 feet. It is divided by vaulting into two portions or bays, each about 15 feet square. The vaulting is supported by four piers at the angles, and two intermediate piers ; from which it springs at the height of only two feet from the floor. The greatest height of the crypt (at the crown of the vaulting) is, as near as may be, 8 feet 6 inches. In the
eastern division, on the south side, are two windows (walled up) corresponding with a string course remaining on the exterior wall; which string course acted as a hood moulding or dripstone. On the eastern wall, in a recess 6 inches deep, are traces of fresco painting (indicative of an altar having formerly been here placed) ; which fresco Mr. Irvine assigned to the close of the 13th or the beginning
of the 14th century. It is said to represent the resurrection.'

The article also attempts to debunk some of the myths that surrounded the charnel house at that date including calculating the number of individuals and indicating that they were not all male, nor violently killed.

{10} A 3D virtual reality model of the chapel and GPR survey of the immediate surroundings. The GPR survey data from the cemetery illuminate changes to its footprint over time. Data from the south aisle of the church also provided supporting evidence for an alternate access route into the charnel house that predates the current stairway probably providing access from within the church.

{11} Case study included;

<1> 1912, Proceedings of The Society of Antiquaries, 225-9 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN58808.

<2> Northampton Museum Records, Finds Cards (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN126.

<3> 1989, GUARDIAN-THE, (checked) (Article). SNN44854.

<4> Foard G, 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Rothwell (Medieval and Post Medieval), (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100514.

<5> Craig-Atkins, E, Crangle, J, & Hadley, D, 2016, New Radiocarbon dating evidence suggests human remains were added to a medieval charnel chapel at Rothwell over a period of more than 700 years, (checked) (Newsletter). SNN110511.

<6> University of Sheffield, 2016, Rothwell Charnel Chapel, checked (Website). SNN110512.

<7> Morton J., 1712, The Natural History of Northamptonshire, p. 474 (Book). SNN10113.

<8> Sharp, S., 1879, The Rothwell Crypt and Bones, 56-69 (Article). SNN110513.

<9> Bloxam, M H, 1855, On the charnel vault at Rothwell, Northamptonshire, and on charnel vaults elsewhere: a paper read at the meeting at Peterborough of the Associated Societies of Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Cambridge, and Leicester (Article). SNN110514.

<10> Craig-Atkins, E., 2018, New spatial and geophysical data analysis by the Rothwell Charnel Chapel Project, an update (Article). SNN111180.

<11> Crangle, J N, 2015, A study of Post-Depositional Funerary Practices in Medieval England (Thesis). SNN111181.

<12> Craig-Atkins, E, Crangle, J, & Hadley, D, 2016, Rothwell Charnel Chapel- The nameless dead (Article). SNN111182.

<13> Craig-Atkins, E, Crangle, J, & Hadley, D, 2016, Rothwell Charnel Chapel: The nameless dead: Exploring the Rothwell Charnel Chapel Project (Article). SNN112663.

Record last edited

Sep 10 2021 3:16PM