Monument record 10640/18 - Abbey of St Werburgh - Parochial Cemetery

This monument represents the medieval graveyard associated with the Abbey of St Werburgh, as opposed to the burials found within the church building or other parts of the monastic complex (see CHER 10640/17), or the post medieval burial ground associated with the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary (CHER 10641/5). It would appear that the parochial graveyard of St Oswald’s (CHER 10671/1, St Oswald’s is located in the south transept of the cathedral) was already in existence when the abbey began to be built. This is evident by the unusual location of the cloister to the north of the abbey church. The graveyard for both St Oswald’s and for the abbey is located to the west and east of the south transept, but in contrast to the post medieval graveyard, it is not known how the cemetery was enclosed at this time, nor how far it extended south. During recent excavations in this area (ECH5204), multiple human remains relating to the later graveyard were identified, however, one burial contained within a stone cist may have been medieval in date (12).

<1> Burne, R. V. H., 1962, The Monks of Chester. The History of St Werburgh's Abbey (Book). SCH3213.

<2> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, /135-145 (Book). SCH3078.

<3> Harris, B.E., 1979, Bartholomew City Guides - Chester, /68-77 (Book). SCH394.

<4> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Ormerod G 1882 1/249-265 (Book). SCH1389.

<5> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, /1/6 & 6/6 (Report). SCH1934.

<6> Maddison J.M., 1981, The Choir of Chester Cathedral, Maddison J M 1983 66/31-46 (Article in Journal). SCH5934.

<7> Ward, S. W., 1996, Chester Cathedral Nave 1995 Floor Survey, R2143 (Client Report). SCH935.

<8> Chester Archaeology, 1996, Chester Cathedral 1996 Trial Excavation, R2144 (Client Report). SCH4074.

<9> Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Revised List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, City of Chester Intra Mural 1998/ 376-381 (Unpublished Report). SCH4570.

<10> Lewis C.P & Thacker A.T. (eds), 2005, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume Vii, The City of Chester - The City of Chester, Culture, Buildings, Institutions (Book). SCH6522.

<11> Blomfield, M. A (Reverand Canon), 1861, On the Lady Chapel in Chester Cathedral (Article in Journal). SCH5512.

<12> Oxford Archaeology North, 2011, Chester Cathedral Quarter, Chester. Revised Evaluation Report, R3274 (Client Report). SCH6658.