Want to see more from the Tower of London excavation?
Historic Royal Palaces have shared a fascinating two-part blog by Curator Alfred Hawkins, offering more detail on the discoveries made outside the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, including insights from the 2019 trial work and the recent excavation.
Part 1: Two Skeletons Found at the Tower of London
Part 2: Discoveries from Excavations Outside the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula
Image: © Historic Royal Palaces
Pre-Construct Archaeology has been working with the independent charity Historic Royal Palaces on the most significant excavation at the Tower of London in a generation. The project, focused around the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, has uncovered the remains of up to 50 individuals, far more than initially anticipated, along with rare grave goods, structural evidence of earlier chapels, and previously unknown Tudor features.
The investigation, carried out with consent from Historic England and overseen by Historic Royal Palaces ahead of lift installation works, has gone deeper than any previous excavation at the Tower since the 1970s, reaching 12th-century layers more than two metres below the surface.
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One of the most significant outcomes of the project is the emerging picture of continuity: it now seems likely that the chapel has occupied the same footprint, with relatively minor variation, for over 800 years. The remains of what appears to be Henry I’s 12th-century chapel have been uncovered, along with fabric associated with later construction works carried out under Henry III in 1240. A distinctive layer of ash appears to match historical accounts of the fire of 1512 that destroyed the chapel built by Edward I. Above this, we have recorded the foundations of the existing Tudor chapel, constructed in 1519–20 during the reign of Henry VIII.
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A particularly striking find was the burial of a child in a coffin, probably dating to the time of Edward I’s chapel, which had been cut through the earlier remains of Henry I’s building. Elsewhere, the team identified Tudor walls from a previously unknown structure adjacent to the chapel. These may have been part of an early phase of the current chapel or a related building later demolished. Later use of the area is also evident, including the presence of coal storage.
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Alongside architectural remains, the excavation has revealed a diverse assemblage of burials. Some individuals appear to have been interred hurriedly, with minimal care, during the 14th century, possibly as a result of the Black Death. These earlier graves pre-date the formalised plague burial practices introduced later in Edward III’s reign. Others were treated with considerable care. One burial included two ceramic vessels, 12th–13th century pots filled with charcoal, a rare grave custom more typical of continental Europe and previously recorded only once before in England. A small fragment of shroud fabric, also recovered, represents a highly unusual survival given the preservation conditions.
Scientific analysis of the human remains, including isotope and DNA analysis, will be carried out as part of a wider research project led by Historic Royal Palaces in partnership with Cardiff University. This work is expected to reveal detailed insights into the health, diet, origins and mobility of those buried here, including a high-status Tudor woman and a young boy discovered in 2019, both of whom were buried in coffins close to the chapel entrance.
Artefacts recovered during the excavation include a decorated medieval floor tile, fragments of stained and painted glass, a pendant, sewing needles, a ring, several cannon balls and a mortar. Together, these finds reflect the Tower’s complex and layered character as fortress, place of worship, community, and centre of royal power.
This important work has featured today in The Times, underscoring its national and historical significance. PCA is proud to contribute to a project that is not only transforming understanding of the Tower’s past, but also helping to shape its future.
Press Enquiries
For more information about PCA, please contact Zbigniew Pozorski, PCA Senior Project Manager: ZPozorski@pre-construct.com
For media queries relating to the archaeology project and the Tower of London, please contact the Historic Royal Palaces Press Office: press@hrp.org.uk
PCA’s Senior Project Officer, Rita Pedro, and Project Manager, Judy Mlynarska, delivered a talk to Grantchester’s After 8s group on 10 July 2025, sharing preliminary findings from the archaeological excavation at 19 High Street, Grantchester.
The excavation uncovered substantial evidence of Saxon occupation, including several structures or ‘halls’ constructed using a variety of techniques: post-built, post-in-trench, and beam slot. A cooking pit or hearth was identified, along with numerous pits and both boundary and enclosure ditches. Notable finds included two decorated needles or dress pins, and a rare fragment of an amber bead.
The event was warmly received, with organisers describing it as “such an amazing evening,” and praising “a wonderful and interesting presentation.”
We’re pleased to be contributing to this year’s Essex Festival of Archaeology, where our team will be sharing results from recent excavations at Great Chesterford, a site that’s proving to be one of the most illuminating early Saxon settlements we’ve investigated.
When: Thursday 24 July 10am-5pm
Where: Cressing Temple Barns, Witham Rd, Cressing, Braintree CM77 8PD
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Mark Hinman and Charlotte Lockwood will present their findings from this exceptional site, which sheds new light on the complexity and character of early medieval life in the region. Their talk will highlight key phases of occupation and some of the discoveries that make the site at Great Chesterford so significant.
Alongside the talk, Sian O’Neill and the finds team will be displaying a selection of the great artefacts from the excavation, offering visitors a close-up look at the material culture of 5th- to 6th-century Essex.
If you’re heading to the festival, we’d love to see you there!
Recent archaeological work by PCA at Saxon Fields in Woodton, Norfolk, uncovered the remains of a Bronze Age ring ditch, evidence of a funerary monument long since ploughed away at ground level. The excavation was carried out in advance of a new housing development by Crocus Homes, who invited pupils from nearby Woodton Primary School to visit the site and learn more about the discoveries.
The children were shown how archaeologists identify and record features like the ring ditch, and had the chance to explore the site with the team and ask questions. Short talks on the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and funerary monuments were given by Project manager Peter, Supervisor Naomi and archaeologist Conor, who also escorted the teachers and children safely around the site, whilst the children looked for archaeological finds on the surface. For many, it was their first encounter with archaeology in the real world, not in a textbook or museum, but in the place they live.
The visit formed part of a broader commitment to community engagement. Crocus Homes were keen to make the archaeology accessible, and to give local people a sense of connection to the history beneath their village. The ring ditch may once have marked a burial or ceremonial space. Though subtle now, its discovery adds a new layer to the story of the area and for the pupils, offered a memorable glimpse into its deeper past.
PCA is pleased to work with developers who recognise the value of archaeology in planning and heritage-informed development, and who are willing to support opportunities like this for public learning.
Read more via Crocus Homes:
https://www.crocushomes.co.uk/news/bringing-history-to-life-at-saxon-fields-woodtonbringing-history-to-life-at-saxon-fields-woodton/
Back in May, field archaeologists Luke Hall and Anna Robson from PCA Durham had the pleasure of visiting St Helen’s Primary School in Hartlepool to talk about the excavations taking place on their school field ahead of construction of a new school building.
Luke and Anna led a whole-school assembly and delivered an in-depth object-handling session to Years 5 and 6. They shared site photographs, real artefacts, and historical sources to show the children what the excavation was uncovering, while also passing on their enthusiasm for archaeology and why it matters. During the object-handling session, pupils and teachers got stuck into object identification, working together to identify a selection of finds and place them on a timeline from youngest to oldest.
A particular highlight was the enthusiasm shown by the older pupils, some of whom are considering archaeology as a future career, and the excitement of handling real objects and some of the tools we use, like our trowels.
We’re grateful to Galliford Try and St Helen’s School for all their help in facilitating these outreach sessions.
PCA recently carried out an assessment of stone from a collapsed section of wall in Hyde, Winchester, working alongside specialist Dr Kevin Hayward and local heritage group Hyde900.
The wall, which probably dates to the late 1540s, includes reused masonry from Hyde Abbey, demolished following the Reformation. Among the fallen material were carved fragments and plain dressed blocks, now recorded as part of the groundwork for a Listed Building application.
Our thanks to Hyde900 and their volunteers for their support on site.
We’re delighted that Becket’s Chapel in South Norfolk has been recognised with a 2025 AABC Conservation Award as part of the Civic Trust Awards. Established in 2014, these awards honour projects that set the standard for historic building conservation, making a lasting impact on the built environment.
The work at Becket’s Chapel shows how sensitive conservation can balance old and new, keeping historic sites relevant and valued by the community. During the project, PCA revealed key evidence of the chapel’s medieval origins, as well as later changes that reflect how the building adapted to new uses over time. Well-preserved masonry and foundations helped to trace the architectural evolution of the site, while artefacts like medieval ceramics and coffin fittings provide further glimpses into its past.
Becket’s Chapel has long been a part of South Norfolk’s heritage, with roots stretching back to the medieval period and a continuous thread of religious and community use. The recent conservation work not only preserves this history but also keeps the building as a familiar landmark for future generations.
PCA is proud to have been involved in the project, bringing archaeological insights to a complex and rewarding scheme, and with Stage 2 still to come, we’re looking forward to uncovering even more of Becket’s Chapel’s story.
Spring LAF – Monday 19th May, 6pm
📍 UCL Institute of Archaeology, 31-34 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY
There will be a great variety of speakers:
As usual, the conversation continues at the pub afterwards.
This footage captures Phase 2 of PCA’s excavation at Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, part of a phased programme of archaeological work being carried out for EDP, on behalf of Spitfire Bespoke Homes Ltd.
The site is revealing a Romano-British ladder enclosure system on the edge of settlement. The adjacent area (Phase 1) has already been excavated and is now under development. In the coming weeks, excavation will move beyond the Heras fencing into Phase 3, where we hope to uncover more of the settlement itself.
Thanks to SUMO Geosurveys for the fantastic footage.
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