Crossbones Graveyard lies tucked away near Borough Market, the final resting place of an estimated 15,000 paupers, amongst them are the Winchester Geese.

The Winchester Geese were prostitutes that worked in the area around Winchester Palace, the residence of the Bishop of Winchester. From the 12th to the 17th Century, the prostitutes of the area were licensed by the Bishop, however were refused a Christian burial. Crossbones Graveyard is unhallowed ground.

“I have heard ancient men of good credit report, that these single women were forbidden the rights of the Church, so long as they continued that sinful life, and were excluded from Christian burial, if they were not reconciled before their death. And therefore there was a plot of ground, called the single woman’s churchyard, appointed for them, far from the parish church.” John Stow, Survey of London 1598

Other people that were denied a Christian burial, such as criminals and the very poor began to also be buried at Crossbones Graveyard. By the nineteenth century, the area around Crossbones Graveyard had become one of the worst slums in London. The cholera epidemic spread through the slums with ease and the body count was high, rapidly filling Crossbones Graveyard and most others.

Due to the increasing threat to public heath, in 1851 an Act was passed that closed many graveyards, including Crossbones in 1853. Burials were moved to large purpose build cemeteries outside of the city and Crossbones Graveyard fell into disuse and became almost forgotten and ignored.

In the 1990s, the Jubilee Line was extended and an electricity sub-station needed to be built, so archaeologists from Museum of London were called in to check the site. They excavated 148 bodies which was estimated to be around 1% of the total number buried at Crossbones Graveyard.

Inspired by a vision, writer John Constable rediscovered the Crossbones Graveyard, now in a dilapidated state and created the Friends of Crossbones to tend and care for it. In 2007, they held a rededication ceremony at the now cleaned up and replanted Crossbones Graveyard.

To find out more about Crossbones Graveyard and Friends of Crossbones, check out their website at https://crossbones.org.uk/

Opening Hours: Wed to Fri – 12-2pm

Transport: London Bridge Station

Address: Union St, London SE1 1SD