New images have shed light on the historic Quaker burial ground that was discovered on the site of the Royal Pavilion Estate under Brighton’s Corn Exchange.
The burial site was discovered earlier this month during redevelopment work taking place at the Brighton Corn Exchange.
So far a total of 15 skeletons have been exhumed and removed from underneath the historic site by five archaeologists from Archaeology South East.
Now, the remains have been carefully lifted and taken to the Archaeology South-East office where they will be cleaned and looked at in detail by the osteological team. Once that process is complete the decision of whether to rebury, cremate or store the skeletons will have to be made. (Storing them would serve the purpose of long term study and curation).
It is thought that the remains are from ‘Quaker’s Croft’, a Quaker burial ground that existed prior to the erection of the Royal Pavilion Estate.
Garrett Sheehan from Archaeology South East has commented: “We believe the skeletons we have found are between two to three hundred years old.”
Chair of the city’s Tourism, Development and Culture Committee, Councillor Alan Robins, has also said: “The discovery of this burial site has opened up a fascinating new chapter in the history of Brighton. It will help us understand how people lived more than 200 years ago and will be added to the story and interpretation of the Royal Pavilion Estate which is being refurbished and restored for future generations.”
The work being done on Brighton’s Corn Exchange prior to the discovery was part of an ambitious project to restore and reunite the Royal Pavilion Estate buildings and gardens. Phase one of the project hopes to restore the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre.