The Cross Bones burial ground, Redcross Way, Southwark, London: archaeological excavations (1991-1998) for the London Underground Limited Jubilee Line Extension Project (out of print)

Abstract

• The 19th-century parish of St Saviour’s, Southwark, teemed with people – the poor and destitute living in overcrowded houses with bad hygiene, drainage and waste disposal, and an inadequate and polluted water supply. This report combines archaeological, biological and documentary evidence, using this sample of 148 burials from the mid 19th century – many of whom died young – to provide a window on a population struggling with harsh living conditions, who were poorly nourished and prone to infectious and deficiency diseases. Most were buried in cheap coffins and this heavily used, ill-kept and unconsecrated burial ground – which was closed in 1853 – contrasts with wealthy parishes elsewhere in London.