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Archaeologists have unearthed over 300 skeletons at the site of a former Debenhams department store currently being transformed into the University of Gloucester’s City Campus. These remains weren’t lost shoppers but evidence of extensive medieval and post-medieval burial grounds that once occupied the area.
The discovery came during excavation work by Cotswold Archaeology, which the university commissioned based on previous historical finds nearby. The team uncovered approximately 317 skeletons and 83 brick burial vaults beneath what was once a bustling retail space.
This isn’t the first significant find at the location. Two years ago, archaeologists excavating the courtyard revealed sections of an 18th century church’s exterior wall and porch – early hints of the site’s rich historical layers.
Gloucester’s buried history continues to surprise experts.
Cliff Bateman from Cotswold Archaeology described Gloucester as “massively important” for archaeological study. “Underneath where we’ve found the 18th century church and medieval and post-medieval burials, there will be Roman buildings in situ,” he explained. “Every time we work in Gloucester, we make new discoveries – it’s unbelievable.”
Discovery under Debenhams
The excavation site – now being developed into a center for teaching, learning and community partnerships – revealed approximately 150 post-medieval burials in the courtyard area. Deeper digging uncovered about 170 earlier burials, painting a picture of continuous use as sacred ground over centuries.
Steve Sheldon, Acting Principal Manager at Cotswold Archaeology, provided historical context for the findings: “The medieval church was demolished in the mid-1650s, with documentary sources indicating that much of its stonework was utilized to repair other parish churches in the town, such as those sustaining damage during the English Civil War.”
A replacement parish church was built in the mid-18th century near or directly on the site of its medieval predecessor. This structure remained standing until the early 1960s when it was demolished to make way for the Debenhams department store that would occupy the space for the next several decades.
Prior to this excavation, archaeologists had limited knowledge about the medieval church’s dimensions and the extent of its burial grounds. Bateman noted the exceptional research opportunity presented by these remains: “As this was an urban church, the story it will tell about the health of Gloucester’s population over a period of around 1,000 years will be most interesting.”
