Spitalfields Charnel House: A Medieval Testament Beneath London

Origins Rooted in Medieval Care and Burial Practices

The Spitalfields Charnel House traces its origins to the late 12th century with the establishment of the Priory and Hospital of St Mary Spital. Unlike modern hospitals, this medieval institution primarily provided spiritual care and shelter for pilgrims, the sick, and vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and orphans. The name 'Spitalfields' itself derives from 'hospital' and 'fields,' reflecting its historic function and the open burial grounds surrounding it.

A Sanctuary for the Dead Amidst Epidemics

The charnel house, constructed around 1320, served as a consecrated vault where bones were stored when graves were reused or disturbed. This practice was especially critical during catastrophic events like the Great Famine and plague outbreaks that claimed thousands of lives. The underground chamber, once packed with skulls and leg bones, symbolized the medieval belief in bodily resurrection on Judgement Day. Its dual role as a chapel and bone repository highlights the intertwining of spiritual and practical concerns in medieval burial customs.

Transformation Through Time and Rediscovery

Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century, the priory was closed, and the charnel house was repurposed as a domestic space, including use as a kitchen. Remarkably, the human remains were left undisturbed, and the building later became a repository for rubble from the Great Fire of London in 1666. Buried beneath layers of history, the charnel house remained hidden until its unexpected rediscovery during construction in 1999. Preservation efforts led to its integration beneath a glass floor in Bishop's Square, allowing visitors to glimpse this extraordinary medieval survival.

Architectural and Archaeological Significance

The charnel house is one of the few surviving examples of early 14th-century architecture in London. Its walls, decorated with knapped flints and Kentish Ragstone, and the presence of Romanesque arches with traces of medieval paint, provide invaluable insights into medieval craftsmanship and religious architecture. Archaeological excavations uncovered over 10,000 human remains, making it one of the largest medieval burial sites studied in Britain, enriched by detailed analysis including carbon dating and facial reconstruction.

Modern Context and Cultural Legacy

Today, Spitalfields is a vibrant area known for its markets, restaurants, and offices, yet beneath this modernity lies a poignant reminder of London's layered past. The Charnel House stands as a testament to the city's medieval history, its struggles with disease and death, and the enduring human desire to honor and remember the dead. Artistic installations within the ruins, such as David Teager-Portman’s statues, add contemporary reflections on loss and exploration, bridging past and present.

Visiting the Site and Its Place in London's Heritage

Accessible beneath Bishop's Square near Spitalfields Market, the charnel house offers a unique subterranean experience. Visitors can view the ruins through a glass floor and descend to a lower level to explore interpretive panels that narrate its history. This rare survival of medieval London enriches the cultural fabric of the city, inviting contemplation of mortality, faith, and the passage of time beneath the bustling streets above.