A brick-lined burial vault uncovered beneath a public square in Canterbury, England, may be the final resting place of an 18th-century vicar and poet, archaeologists have said.
The chamber was discovered during improvement works at St Mary Bredman Square, close to the site of the former Nason’s department store. Paving stones were lifted as part of the city council’s regeneration programme when contractors identified what experts later described as an “empty void”.
Specialists from Canterbury Archaeological Trust were called in to investigate. The team recorded the structure but chose not to carry out a full excavation in order to preserve its contents.
Archaeologist Jess Twyman, who has worked for the trust for 25 years, said the vault could belong to the Reverend John Duncombe, a former vicar of St Mary Bredman who died in 1786 aged 56.
A late 18th-century description of church monuments refers to a ledger stone dedicated to Duncombe. He was known not only as a clergyman but also as a poet and writer with an interest in archaeology.
“We cannot say for sure that it is his vault, but it is possible,” Ms Twyman said.
The brick chamber measures approximately 2.5 metres long and just under one metre wide. Its position directly in front of the church’s former altar suggests it was constructed for a prominent individual.
A separate grave slab bearing a carved skull and laurel wreath — a traditional “memento mori” motif reminding viewers of mortality — was also uncovered at the site, though it is not believed to be linked to Duncombe.
In total, 14 vaults have been examined across three church locations within the city walls, and archaeologists believe more could remain undiscovered.
Ms Twyman said her fascination with burials began in childhood after medieval skeletons were excavated at her primary school. “The most important thing is understanding how people lived in the past,” she said.
Her colleague Mark Houliston noted that Canterbury once had about 25 parish churches within its walls, many established from the late Saxon period.
The square, now home to a war memorial and flowerbeds, will form part of the council’s regeneration scheme, which includes a mural depicting a church window, new planting and seating — ensuring the city’s buried past continues to shape its present.
Sources : Canterbury Archaeological Trust
