Monument record 1160/11/8 - Greyfriars cemetery, Princes Street

The site of the cemetery is said to have been discovered in Princes Street in the late 19th century. Dryden recorded rows of burials during the excavation of cellars in 1887 on the corner of Newland and Princes Street. Further burials were located in 1889 to the east.

{1} Burial ground of Grey Friars on site of Temperance Hall in angle of Newland & Princes St; discovered 1887 but no details of features or finds; location plan given. There were about 80 or 90 burials, with the interments c6ft below ground to the north-east, but only 2ft deep at the west and 4ft deep at the south. The skeletons were not accompanied by any indications of coffins according to the workmen, except four which were in stone coffins. Two of the coffins were built from several pieces but with no top or bottom. A third had a richly ornamented lid and the remnants of hair-cloth were found inside.

{2}Two of Salisburys buried in Grey Friars; John Bungey also buried here;

{5}Traces of internments found in Princes Street showing that cemetery lay between Newland & south side of Princes Street & on site of present Temperance Hall & Masonic Hall;

{6}Site of cemetery discovered; Prince's Street; suggests that two establishments may have used area where parishes of All Saints & St Giles & St Sepulchre meet;

{7} In 1540 the site was let to Thomas Thorne including rent of 10s.0d for the cemetery; land bought by Richard Taverner in 1544 included the cemetery; trench cut between Albert Street & Wood Street revealing series of graves; coffins not identified but 1 possible cist; area somewhat removed from friary church & cemetery remains may relate to St Michaels church which was probably situated on Wood Street; description of human skeletal remains in finds report;

{8}Skeletons found in yard of Litherland factory 31st January 1951; reported as C16th or earlier; remains destroyed by workman; finds reported to museum by coroner;

{9} Drawings of stone coffins, lids, effigies and map, sketches, also pamphlet;

{10} Identifies a new area of burials found during development in 1889 on a plot of land slightly further to the east (than the burials found in 1887).

<1> Dryden H.E.L., 1887, The Burial Ground of The Grey Friars, Northampton, p.121-23 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1194.

<2> Serjeantson R.M.; Ryland W. (Editors), 1906, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.146 (checked) (Series). SNN100369.

<3> Dugdale, 1817, Monasticon Anglicanum, p.97 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN9460.

<4> Hearne T., 1710, Collectanea (Leland J.), p.10 (unchecked) (Series). SNN974.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP76SE29 (part checked) (Index). SNN443.

<6> Wetton, 1849, Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity, p.49 (checked) (Book). SNN1032.

<7> Williams J., 1978, Excavations at Greyfriars, Northampton 1972, p.102 (checked) (Article). SNN459.

<8> 1951, The Chronicle and Echo, 19 (Article). SNN2980.

<9> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/198/1-9,10,16-18,109 (Archive). SNN115.

<10> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/198/9 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Jul 29 2025 4:38PM