Archaeologists have uncovered a significant historical find beneath the bustling streets of Central London. The ancient graveyard of the notorious Bethlem Royal Hospital, better known as “Bedlam,” was discovered during the construction of a 13-mile high-speed tunnel as part of the £15 billion Crossrail project. This burial site, located under Liverpool Street Station, contains as many as 20,000 skeletons, shedding light on a dark chapter of London’s history.
Established in 1247 by Simon FitzMary, a former Sheriff of London, Bethlem Royal Hospital was Europe’s first dedicated psychiatric institution and became synonymous with madness and chaos, giving rise to the term “bedlam.” Initially, it was a priory dedicated to St. Mary of Bethlehem. By the early 15th century, it primarily housed patients with mental illnesses, epilepsy, learning disabilities, and dementia. Conditions were harsh, with treatments involving restraint, dousing with water, beatings, and isolation. The hospital’s squalid conditions and the practice of charging the public to view patients contributed to its infamous reputation.
The 500-year-old graveyard was originally part of the hospital’s grounds and was used to alleviate the overcrowding of city cemeteries. It became the final resting place for many of London’s poor, religious non-conformists, and Bedlam’s inmates. Among those potentially buried there is Robert Lockyer, a radical Leveller executed in 1649.
Archaeologists, led by Nick Elsden from the Museum of London Archaeology, have found approximately 4,000 skeletons that will need to be disinterred and studied before being reburied. These remains offer a rare glimpse into the lives and conditions of 16th-century Londoners. Preliminary examinations have revealed signs of rickets and other diseases, reflecting the harsh living conditions of the time.
The excavation has also yielded a treasure trove of historical artifacts, including reindeer and mammoth bones from 68,000 years ago, a Mesolithic tool-making site, medieval ice skates, an 800-year-old ship fragment, and a stretch of Roman road complete with horseshoes and coins. One notable find is a 16th-century Venetian coin, likely worn as a pendant.
This archaeological dig is unprecedented due to its location and the sheer volume of historical material uncovered. According to Matthew Symonds, editor of Current Archaeology magazine, the site offers an invaluable cross-section of society, providing insights into the lives of everyday people often absent from historical records.
The discovery of the Bedlam burial ground underlines the rich and often dark history lying beneath modern London. As the Crossrail project continues, further investigations promise to deepen our understanding of the city’s past, revealing the stories of those who lived and died in one of its most infamous institutions.
