English Heritage

The oldest parts of St Peter’s church, its striking Anglo-Saxon tower and baptistery, were built in the early 11th century. Look out for the tower’s characteristically Saxon triangular-headed windows and decoration with thin stone strips.

After being declared redundant in 1972, the church and its churchyard were comprehensively excavated. The remains of nearly 3,000 people were found, along with perfectly preserved medieval coffins. They span the thousand years between Anglo-Saxon and Victorian times. The Buried Lives display brings research on the bodies to life. Trace the impact of historic diseases, diet and surgery, uncover family tragedies, see mysterious objects buried with bodies.