Anglo-Saxon church discovered underneath Stoke Mandeville HS2 site

The Anglo-Saxon church has been unearthed underneath a Norman church being excavated as part of the transport works.

Over the past few months, a team of 40 archaeologists have been examining St Mary’s Old Church in Stoke Mandeville, near Aylesbury, Bucks.

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They discovered flint walls forming a square structure underneath Norman levels, enclosed by a circular boundary ditch and a small number of associated burials.

The flint foundations are about 1m wide, which indicates it would have been a tall structure, although its footprint would have been small.

Stills from drone and camera of St Mary's Church dig, specifically around the area where there is a footprint of an Anglo Saxon church, predating the Norman church (AD1080). Flint stone base, with crushed stone layout, graves below the Norman church

The foundations of the pre-Norman structure have reused Roman roof tiles in them and with evidence of a nearby Roman settlement, archaeologists say it is possible that the materials were reused from a previous structure away from this location.

The team were ‘thrilled’ at the find, especially as the structure has survived to a ‘truly remarkable’ extent.

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Dr Rachel Wood, the archaeologist leading the work in Stoke Mandeville, said: “This is a fantastic discovery that we are all very excited to excavate.

“The work undertaken at Old St Mary’s is a unique archaeological opportunity to excavate a medieval parish church with over 900 years of meaning to the local community.

“It also gives us the opportunity to learn more about the community that used the church and to understand the lives they lived.

Stills from drone and camera of St Mary's Church dig, specifically around the area where there is a footprint of an Anglo Saxon church, predating the Norman church (AD1080). Flint stone base, with crushed stone layout, graves below the Norman church

“To then find an earlier structure beneath the Norman church is outstanding.

“To have so much of it remaining, including the walls and even some flooring, will provide a great deal of information about the site prior to the construction of the Norman church in 1080AD.

“The discovery of this pre-Norman, possible Saxon Church is a once in a career opportunity for archaeologists and will provide a much greater understanding of the history of Stoke Mandeville.”

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The site sits on the line of the new HS2 route and is being carefully investigated by a team from LP-Archaeology, working with HS2’s enabling works contractor, Fusion-JV.

Helen Wass, HS2’s Heritage lead, said: “Once again, our vast archaeology programme has given us the ability to reveal more about the history of Britain.

“The discovery of a pre-Norman church in Stoke Mandeville allows us to build a clearer picture of what the landscape of Buckinghamshire would have been like over 1000 years ago.

Stills from drone and camera of St Mary's Church dig, specifically around the area where there is a footprint of an Anglo Saxon church, predating the Norman church (AD1080). Flint stone base, with crushed stone layout, graves below the Norman church

“All artefacts and human remains uncovered will be treated with dignity, care and respect and our discoveries will be shared with the community through open days and expert lectures.

“HS2’s archaeology programme seeks to engage with all communities both local and nationally to share the information and knowledge gained as well as leaving a lasting archival and skills legacy.”

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The church originally being excavated by HS2 archaeologists was St Mary’s Church in Stoke Mandeville which was built in 1080AD, very shortly after the Norman conquest.

It had been renovated in the 13th, 14th and 17th centuries, and played a central role in the community, furnished with a variety of extensions and the construction of a brick bell tower.

Stills from drone and camera of St Mary's Church dig, specifically around the area where there is a footprint of an Anglo Saxon church, predating the Norman church (AD1080). Flint stone base, with crushed stone layout, graves below the Norman church

A new church closer to the centre of the village was built in the 1880s, and at that point the Norman church fell into disrepair and in the 1960s the Royal Engineers were drafted in to pull it down.

History and other rare finds

The team have also been carefully excavating the buried population at the Old St Mary’s Churchyard, examining what life would have been like for a rural population who lived in the area over the period the Norman church was in use.

Evidence for funerary practices such as when a plate of salt was placed on the deceased have been discovered.

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A further unusual find at St Mary’s was a ‘flea catcher’ found buried with a gentleman, next to his head.

The ‘flea catcher’ was a small bone pot which would have contained a rag with blood on it, and a bit of honey.

Fleas from the gentleman’s wig would have been attracted to the blood on the rag and would stick to the honey inside the pot.