Queen's Chapel of the Savoy

Excavations by Archaeology South-East (ASE) in 2011–2012 within the burial ground of the Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy, City of Westminster, revealed a complex and unique population dating from the 16th to 19th centuries.

The population were recorded and published by Archaeology South-East (ASE) (Sibun and Ponce 2018). The remains of 609 articulated individuals (whose bones were found in anatomical position) and site archive, including the osteological recording forms, have been deposited with the Archaeological Archive. As no digital data was deposited with the Archaeological Archive. Online, we are only able to provide a pdf of the archaeological evaluation human bone report (Ponce 2011).

Excavations within the burial ground of the Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy, City of Westminster, revealed the location’s complex and changing use. In the 16th century, it was the site of Henry VII’s hospital (almshouse) for the poor. In the 17th century, it was repurposed as a military hospital. In the 18th century, it was used by the Foot Guards as a barracks and prison and in the 19th century, it was redeveloped for public use. The burial ground was used throughout, with the final burial taking place in 1854.

The site is of importance because a wealth of primary source information allowed certain individuals to be identified. This enabled the comparison of bioarchaeological and historical datasets. Historical records provided further insights into how the hospitals and military institutions functioned.

A large quantity of disarticulated human remains (whose bones are no longer in anatomical position) were encountered during excavation. If these remains had evidence for pathology, they were retained and examined as part of the assessment process. The remainder were set aside on site for reburial (Ponce 2011; Sibun and Ponce 2018).

A total of 48 adult individuals had preliminary dietary stable isotope analyses undertaken by BioArCh at the University of York. The results show that these individuals had a largely C-3 (carbon isotope) plant-based diet. The nitrogen values (δ15N) show variation in protein consumption, which is believed to reflect the various status groups represented at the site (Sibun and Ponce 2018:71–72).

Bradford University carried out preliminary isotopic analyses on samples of hair from seven individuals, which had preserved in the burial environment. But it was only successful for one subadult. Their results provided evidence for physiological stress – this individual also had evidence for rickets and enamel hypoplastic defects (Sibun and Ponce 2018:72–73).

The bioarchaeological data is documented in the individual recording forms, and the final dataset, including images, is published in Sibun and Ponce (2018).

No digital data was deposited with the Archaeological Archive. On this page, we have provided data published in Sibun and Ponce (2018) and are only able to share the archaeological evaluation human bone report (Ponce 2011).

A total of 609 individuals were published by Sibun and Ponce (2018).

Stature calculations were undertaken using the long bones of sexed adult individuals, with the left femur preferentially used. Average male stature (n=273) was 173cm and female (n=84) was 160cm (Sibun and Ponce 2018: Table 5.3).

A wide range of pathological conditions were reported, and these are summarised below (Sibun and Ponce 2018: 67–137). This data is also documented in the individual recording forms, and the final dataset is published in more detail, including images, in Sibun and Ponce (2018).

A total of 154 individuals had evidence for infectious disease: tuberculosis, syphilis, periostitis, osteomyelitis, mastoiditis, rib lesions, endocranial lesions and maxillary sinusitis.

A range of conditions were observed in 118 individuals: rickets, scurvy, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis and Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH).

These conditions were reported in 65 individuals: Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, slipped femoral epiphysis and osteochondritis dissecans.

These conditions were reported in 155 individuals: extra-spinal joint disease, spinal joint disease, joint ankylosis, gout and rheumatoid arthritis.

A total of 155 individuals had congenital conditions present. Anomalies of the skull included sutural agenesis, metopism and craniosynostosis. Changes to the vertebrae included spina bifida, cleft neural arches, border shifts, scoliosis, kyphosis, block vertebrae, ventral hypoplasia and supernumerary vertebrae.

A number of changes were also seen in the rib bones: cervical and lumbar ribs, bifurcated, flared and merged ribs.

Elsewhere in the thorax, the following conditions were reported: sternal aperture, dislocation of the hip and sacroiliac coalition. A range of conditions affecting the limbs and their joints were also observed: congenital aplasia, symphalangism, coxa valga, bipartite patella, tibiofibular synostosis, os trigonum, os calcaneus, os navicular, os cuneiform and os vesalianum.

Identified neoplasms (n=6) were multiple myeloma, button osteoma and unifocal eosinophilic granuloma. Miscellaneous conditions (n=5) were reported as elongated styloid process, inferior turbinate hypertrophy, corsetry deformation of the rib cage and hallux valgus. Cutmarks, drilled holes and craniotomies were also observed.

A broad range of conditions were reported in this category, which affected 417 individuals: ante-mortem fractures throughout the axial and appendicular skeleton, individuals with multiple fractures, peri-mortem fractures in four individuals, enthesopathies, Schmorl’s nodes, Scheuermann’s disease, joint dislocation, ankylosis, spondylolysis, os acromiale and myositis ossificans traumatica. Weapon injuries were also observed – penetrating and gunshot lesions.

Caries, cysts, dental enamel hypoplasia, periodontal disease, dental trauma, pipe-facets, ante-mortem tooth loss, calculus and congenital anomalies were reported in 146 individuals.

The human remains from this burial ground provide important information about almshouse, hospital and military populations during the 16th–18th centuries, and this data is supported by a wealth of primary source information, which enabled the identification of some individuals, and also permitted the comparison of bioarchaeological and historical datasets. The bioarchaeological dataset is published by Sibun and Ponce (2018).

Ponce, P. 2011. The Human Remains. In G Dawkes (ed), Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy, Savoy Street, City of Westminster, London. Report on an archaeological evaluation. Archaeology South-East. ASE Report No. 2011138.

Sibun, L and Ponce, P (eds). 2018. In life and death: archaeological excavations at the Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy, London. London: Spoilheap Publications, Monograph 17.

Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy, Savoy Hill, City of Westminster, WC2E 7EG

Site code: QCS11

Recorded by: Archaeology South-East (ASE)

Last updated: 2025