Stone Coffin Research Articles

XXVI. Account of some Lids of Stone Coffins discovered in Cambridge Castle in 1810. By the Rev. T. Kerrich, M.A. F.S.A. Principal Librarian to the University of Cambridge; in a Letter to Nicholas Carlisle, Esq. Secretary

I here send you Drawings (Pl. XV. XVI.) of some broken Lids of Stone Coffins, which were discovered in Cambridge Castle, when great part of it was destroyed, in the beginning of the year 1810.This castle, we are told, was built by William the Conqueror; and as they were found under part of the original ramparts, it should seem that they must be, at least, as ancient as his time. However I do not mean to offer any conjectures concerning their antiquity, but shall be obliged to you to lay the Drawings of them before the Society, if you think them worthy of their notice.

II. An Account of the Discovery of the Corpse of one of the Abbots of Gloucester. In a Letter from Mr. John Cooke, Surgeon, of that City, to Charles Marsh, Esq. F.R. and A.S.S.

In the year 1741, Bishop Benson, at his single expence for the better securing of the organ, which had been removed some years before from the South side of the choir, gave order that a screen with proper pillars should be erected. During the course of this work a stone coffin containing the corpse of an abbot was discovered. Very lately it was thought proper that the whole of the pavement of the body of the church should be new laid, to which the late Chancellor Benson very liberally contributed. It was begun in his life-time. This occasioned the same coffin to be again exposed, and by this it is also to be apprehended that many very antient grave stones must be destroyed and the modern ones removed from the vaults they covered to distinct places, to effect the uniformity of the flooring. On Monday the 7th of March last I had past through the Cathedral at the time when the same graves were just exposed. Several persons were standing round the venerable remains, and I was called upon to be a spectator of that awful sight. My attention was instantly fixt, and I made a sketch which I have since perfected.

V. A second Letter from Mr. Masters to George Steevens, Esq. on the Stone Coffins found in repairing Cambridge Castle

When I was at Cambridge on Thursday last, Mr. Kerrich and I were summoned to the Castle to the opening of two more stone coffins lying very near the place where those you saw had been deposited, but nearer to the building, with the covering of another, part of which went under the foundation of the old wall of the staircase, so that they seem to have been deposited there before that building was erected. The feet of the coffins were sunk much lower than the heads, which probably occasioned their breaking.

XXI. Observations on the Stone Coffins found at Christ-Church. By Mr. Pegge. In a Letter to Gustavus Brander, Esq.

I cannot deny myself the pleasure of presenting you with some cursory observations on three very singular stone coffins lately discovered at your seat of Christ-church Twynham, of which you was so obliging as to send me a sketch.