St Marylebones Paddington Street

north burial ground

Excavations at Paddington Street, London W1,
201213

MOLA Archaeology Studies Series

For more information about these titles and other MOLA publications
visit the publications page at www.mola.org.uk

1 A 14th-century pottery site in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey:

excavations at 7076 Eden Street
2 Excavations at 7275 Cheapside/8393 Queen Street, City of
London
3 Bankside: excavations at Benbow House, Southwark, London SE1
4 A Romano-British cemetery on Watling Street: excavations at
165 Great Dover Street, Southwark, London
5 Excavations at 25 Cannon Street, City of London: from the
Middle Bronze Age to the Great Fire

18 Late 17th- to 19th-century burial and earlier occupation at All

Saints, Chelsea old church, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
19 Roman waterfront development at 12 Arthur Street, City of
London
20 Finsburys moated manor, medieval land use and later development
in the Finsbury Square area, Islington
21 The City Bunhill burial ground, Golden Lane, London:
excavations at South Islington schools, 2006
22 Stepney Gasworks: the archaeology and history of the Commercial
Gas Light and Coke Companys works at Harford Street, London E1,
18371946
23 Medieval settlement to 18th-/19th-century rookery: excavations at
Central Saint Giles, London Borough of Camden, 20068

6 The London Millennium Bridge: excavation of the medieval and

later waterfronts at Peters Hill, City of London, and Bankside,
Southwark

24 New Bunhill Fields burial ground, Southwark: excavations at

Globe Academy, 2008

7 An excavation in the western cemetery of Roman London: Atlantic

House, City of London

25 The Hope playhouse, animal baiting and later industrial activity at

Bear Gardens on Bankside: excavations at Riverside House and New
Globe Walk, Southwark, 19992000

8 The Roman tower at Shadwell, London: a reappraisal

9 Early modern industry and settlement: excavations at George Street,
Richmond, and High Street, Mortlake, in the London Borough of
Richmond upon Thames
10 Roman burials, medieval tenements and suburban growth:
201 Bishopsgate, City of London
11 Investigating the maritime history of Rotherhithe: excavations
at Pacific Wharf, 165 Rotherhithe Street, Southwark
12 Medieval and later urban development at High Street, Uxbridge:
excavations at the Chimes Shopping Centre, London Borough of
Hillingdon
13 Pre-Boudican and later activity on the site of the forum:
excavations at 168 Fenchurch Street, City of London
14 Roman and medieval development south of Newgate: excavations
at 39 Newgate Street and 1617 Old Bailey, City of London
15 The Doulton stoneware pothouse in Lambeth: excavations at
9 Albert Embankment, London
16 Becoming Roman: excavation of a Late Iron Age to RomanoBritish landscape at Monkston Park, Milton Keynes
17 A Roman drainage culvert, Great Fire destruction debris and other
evidence from hillside sites north-east of London Bridge: excavations
at Monument House and 1321 Eastcheap, City of London

26 Roman and medieval development south of Cheapside: excavations

at Bow Bells House, City of London, 20056
27 At the limits of Lundenwic: excavations in the north-west of
Middle Saxon London at St Martins Courtyard, 20078
28 Prehistoric to medieval landscape and settlement at Kemsley, near
Sittingbourne, Kent: excavations 20035
29 Roman roadside settlement and rural landscape at Brentford:
archaeological investigations at Hilton London Syon Park Hotel,
200410
30 Medieval Haywharf to 20th-century brewery: excavations at
Watermark Place, City of London
31 Roman occupation south-east of the forum: excavations at 20
Fenchurch Street, City of London, 20089
32 Urban development in the north-west of Londinium: excavations at
120122 Cheapside to 1418 Gresham Street, City of London, 20057
33 Roman and medieval revetments on the Thames waterfront:
excavations at Riverbank House, City of London, 20069
34 St Marylebones Paddington Street north burial ground: excavations
at Paddington Street, London W1, 201213

St Marylebones
Paddington Street north
burial ground
Excavations at Paddington Street,
London W1, 201213

Michael Henderson, Adrian Miles and Don Walker

MOLA ARCHAEOLOGY STUDIES SERIES 34

Published by MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology)

Copyright MOLA 2015

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in

a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission
of the copyright owner.
The Ordnance Survey mapping included in this publication is
Crown copyright 2015, Ordnance Survey 100049883. All rights reserved.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Production and series design by Tracy Wellman

Typesetting and design by Sue Cawood
Reprographics by Andy Chopping
Copy editing by Simon Burnell
Series editing by Sue Hirst/Susan M Wright
Printed in the United Kingdom by Henry Ling Ltd
at the Dorset Press, an ISO 14001 certified printer

Front cover: diamond-shaped coffin breast plates of lead from female burials (Fig
42, <127>; Fig 51, <125>; Fig 53, <64>; Fig 66, <118>) (not all at same scale)

CONTRIBUTORS

Principal author
(stratigraphy)

Adrian Miles

Principal authors
(human bone)

Michael Henderson, Don Walker

Documentary research Adrian Miles

Coffin furniture

Adrian Miles, Valerie Griggs

Coins and tokens

Julian Bowsher

Accessioned finds

Beth Richardson

Radiography

Paul Bland, Sophie Willis

Graphics

Carlos Lemos

Photography

Andy Chopping, Maggie Cox

Project managers

David Bowsher (post-excavation),

Craig Halsey (fieldwork)

Academic advisor
(human bone)

Natasha Powers

Editor

Bruno Barber

List of figures

CONTENTS

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ix

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

xi

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

xii

List of tables
Summary

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1.1

Location and circumstances of fieldwork

1.2

Archaeological methodology

1.3

The documentary sources

Parish registers

. . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Vestry minutes and other vestry records

Other sources

The parish of St Marylebone

xiii

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.4

Organisation of the report

1.5

Textual and graphical conventions

2.1

The character of the parish and the local population

2.2

The other parish burial grounds

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .

4
4

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Overview of the excavated population from the

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

parish church and churchyard

The Paddington Street north burial ground

3.1

Documentary evidence
Foundation

Layout and fees

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Pressure on burial space

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Closure and subsequent history

3.2

12

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14

The burial ground boundary wall (S10)

Layout and arrangement

. . . . . . . .

15

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

16

Vaults and other burial structures (S1S9)

3.3

11

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Archaeological evidence
The excavated area

10

. . . . . . .

17

Combined evidence for the operation of the

burial ground

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Distribution of graves over time

. . . . . . . . . . . .

20
20

Contemporary schemes for locating graves and

monuments

The burial population

4 4.1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Documentary evidence
Wills

22

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

25

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

25

Recorded occupations

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Addresses and property ownership

. . . . . . . . . . .

26

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

27

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

27

Money and investments

American connections

25

Recorded monuments to excavated named individuals . 27

vi

4.2

The named burials

4.3

The excavated population: discussion

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Archaeological evidence

. . . . . . . . .

58

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

58

Overview of the osteological subsample

Burial practice

. . . . . . . .

58

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

62

5.1

Funerals

5.2

Coffins, coffin furniture and fittings

. . . . . . . . . .

62

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

63

Wooden coffins

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

64

Notable coffins

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

64

Lead and iron coffins

Coffin breast plates

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Coffin handles (grips)

5.3

70

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

70

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

70

Items worn by the deceased

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

71

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

72

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

76

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

76

Items placed in the coffin

6.1

Introduction

6.2

Methodology

Subsample design
Dental radiography

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

77

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

77

Inter-observer error testing

6.3

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

80

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

80

Preservation

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

80

Demography

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

81

Age at death

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

81

The named burials

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Spatial distribution and grave type

6.5

Metric data

83

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

85

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

85

Subadult growth

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

85

Skeletal indices

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

86

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

87

Non-metric traits

Cranial non-metric traits

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Post-cranial non-metric traits

6.7

83

. . . . . . . . . . .

Adult stature

6.6

80

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Completeness and preservation

Completeness

6.4

65

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The burial finds

Introduction

The people: the osteological evidence

27

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

88

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

88

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

88

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

93

Palaeopathology
Dental disease
Dentistry

Congenital and developmental abnormalities

Infectious disease
Trauma

87

. . . . .

96

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

99

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

102
vii

Medical intervention
Joint disease

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

108

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

109

Metabolic disorders

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

114

Circulatory disease

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

116

Neoplastic disease

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

116

Other pathological conditions

viii

. . . . . . . . . . . .

119

French and German summaries

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

123

Bibliography

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

126

Index

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

132

FIGURES

Fig 1

Fig 2
Fig 3
Fig 4
Fig 5
Fig 6

Fig 7
Fig 8
Fig 9
Fig 10
Fig 11
Fig 12

Fig 13

Fig 14
Fig 15
Fig 16
Fig 17
Fig 18
Fig 19
Fig 20
Fig 21

Fig 22

Map showing the location of the site, the two

parish churches and the MAL92/MBH04
investigations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Plan showing the location of the archaeological
investigations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
View of the site with the excavation area in the
south-east corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
View of work in progress in the northern part of
the excavation area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Graphical conventions used in this report . . . . . . 5
St Marylebones burial grounds in the immediate
vicinity of the site, shown on the Horwood map
compiled in 17929 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Plan of the new burial ground from the vestry
minutes of 27 February 1772 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Plan showing the western boundary wall (S10) of
the burial ground in its construction cut . . . . . . . 15
View of the internal face of the boundary wall
(S10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
General plan showing all grave cuts and vaults . . . . 16
Histogram showing the occurrence of single and
multiple interments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Plan showing the distribution of burials identified
from coffin plates and references in the directions
for burials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Plan showing the vaults and other burial structures
(S1S9) with associated family names where these
can be identified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Internal view of the White family vault (S1) after
excavation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
View of William Henshaws coffin under excavation
within the burial vault (S2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
View of the base of the Bradley chest tomb
monument (S3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
West-facing elevation of the base of the Farmer
chest tomb monument (S5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Histogram showing the distribution of excavated
coffin plates by date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Sequence of plans showing the distribution of
burials by date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Plan showing the distribution and date of the first
dated interment in a grave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Plan showing locational numbers from the directions
for burials that can be correlated with excavated
interments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Plan showing headstone location numbers from the
c 1885 index of graves that can be either correlated
with excavated named interments, or located to

Fig 23
Fig 24
Fig 25
Fig 26
Fig 27
Fig 28
Fig 29
Fig 30
Fig 31
Fig 32
Fig 33
Fig 34
Fig 35
Fig 36
Fig 37
Fig 38
Fig 39
Fig 40
Fig 41
Fig 42
Fig 43
Fig 44
Fig 45
Fig 46
Fig 47
Fig 48
Fig 49
Fig 50
Fig 51
Fig 52
Fig 53
Fig 54
Fig 55
Fig 56
Fig 57
Fig 58
Fig 59
Fig 60
Fig 61
Fig 62
Fig 63
Fig 64
Fig 65

excavated grave but not to individual interment . .

John Astes breast plate <104> . . . . . . . . . . . .
James Baillies breast plate <90> . . . . . . . . . . .
Henry and Jane Barrells breast plates <98> and
<143> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
James Bradleys breast plate <68> . . . . . . . . . .
Elizabeth Cafes breast plate <95> . . . . . . . . . .
George Catess breast plate <107> . . . . . . . . . .
Mary Dugginss breast plate <130> . . . . . . . . .
Sarah Eastlakes breast plate <119> . . . . . . . . .
Thomas Eastups breast plate <78> and inner
plate <77> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mary Edwardss breast plate <108> . . . . . . . . .
Katherine Halls inner plate <99> . . . . . . . . .
Charlotte Hankins breast plate <123> . . . . . . .
Honour Harnages breast plate <97> . . . . . . . .
William Harriss breast plate <89> and inner
plate <88> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rev Henry Kiplings breast plate <66> . . . . . . .
William Martins breast plate <132> . . . . . . . .
Ann Olivia Matthewss inner plate <69> . . . . . .
Charlotte Needhams breast plate <105> . . . . . .
James Neweys breast plate <121> . . . . . . . . . .
Lady Leonora Rushs breast plate <127> . . . . . .
Andrew Dunbar Sandoms breast plate <131> . . .
Sarah Scotlands breast plate <83> . . . . . . . . .
Henry Suttons breast plate <128> . . . . . . . . .
Breast plates of John Duke Thompson <120> and
Thomas Thompson <111> . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
William Thorntons breast plate <100> . . . . . . .
Frances Turners breast plate <113> . . . . . . . . .
Henry Turners inner plate <109> with reverse
showing inscription for Jeremiah Crutchley . . . .
Elizabeth Upstones breast plate <94> . . . . . . . .
Jane Vicks breast plate <125> . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lady Charlotte Wentworths breast plate <79> . . .
White family breast plates <55>, <57><59>, <61>
and <64> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
John Whites breast plate <62> . . . . . . . . . . .
Portrait of John White (17481813) by an unknown
artist, c 1800 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Watercolour view of John Whites house in
Marylebone as it would have appeared in 1794 . .
Plan showing the location of lead coffins . . . . .
View of iron coffin [125] within the White family
vault (S1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
View of wooden coffin [872] and skeleton [871]
under excavation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
View of Elizabeth Eastups wooden coffin [327]
with copper-alloy studs under excavation . . . . .
Plan showing the location of coffins with copperalloy studs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Views of William Whites coffin [116] . . . . . . .
Views of John Whites coffin [121] . . . . . . . . .
Wooden supports found within coffin [286] . . . .
Lead inner plate of John White and lead end-

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24
28
29
30
31
32
33
35
36
36
37
39
39
40
41
42
44
44
45
46
47
48
48
49
50
50
52
52
53
53
53

55
56

57

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57
63

63

64

65

65
66
67
67

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ix

Fig 66
Fig 67
Fig 68
Fig 69
Fig 70
Fig 71
Fig 72
Fig 73
Fig 74
Fig 75
Fig 76
Fig 77
Fig 78
Fig 79
Fig 80
Fig 81
Fig 82

Fig 83
Fig 84
Fig 85
Fig 86
Fig 87
Fig 88
Fig 89
Fig 90
Fig 91
Fig 92
Fig 93
Fig 94
Fig 95
Fig 96
Fig 97
Fig 98

plate <137> of Ann Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lead breast plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Grips and grip plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jewellery <S1><S6> from burials . . . . . . . . . .
Internally-sprung textile object <S7>, possibly a
hair band or choker necklace . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Glass phials <G1> and <G2> . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Portrait miniature <S8> found with Ellen Thynne
[425] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Silver lid <S9> and sponge <S10>, possibly a
vinaigrette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Token with inscribed W <C1> . . . . . . . . . . .
Views of DPT equipment and specimen positioned
for imaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Example of a radiographic image showing tooth
development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Skeletal completeness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Skeletal preservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Distribution of aged individuals . . . . . . . . . . .
Adult age at death distribution by sex . . . . . . . .
Age at death of subadults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comparison of adult documented ages and
osteological ageing methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comparison of adult documented ages and
osteological ageing methods with actual
documented ages placed in osteological age
categories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comparison of documented and osteological ages
of subadults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comparison of the distribution of adults and
subadults in burial stacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Subadult age at death calculated from diaphyseal
length and dental age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deciduous dental pathology by tooth position . . .
True prevalence of adult dental caries and
corrected caries by age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
True prevalence of dental calculus by age group in
adult males and females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
True prevalence of enamel hypoplasia by adult
age group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
True prevalence of periodontal disease by age group
in adult males and females . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dental wear in adult male [200] . . . . . . . . . . .
Adult male [610] with unusual dental wear . . . . .
Dental prosthesis <1> of William Cooper [196] . . .
Mandible of female [340] with dental bridge <2> . .
Denture of Thomas Thompson [755] . . . . . . . .
Right maxilla of probable adult male [370]
showing gold fillings and filed teeth . . . . . . . . .
Occlusal view of mandible of female [763] with
gold filling <7> in the left canine . . . . . . . . . . .
Anterior view of axis with a bifid odontoid process
in subadult [357] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

68
68
70
71
72
73
73
74
75
78
79
81
81
82
82
83
84

84
85
85
86
90
90
90
91
91
92
92
93
94
95
95
96
97

Fig 99 Fusion and abnormally wide sternum in male

[991] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Fig 100 Examples of possible secondary osteomyelitis
following trauma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Fig 101 Left lateral view of the lower thoracic and lumbar
vertebrae of female [869] with Potts disease of
the spine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Fig 102 Soft tissue calcification in probable female [489] . . 102
Fig 103 Crude prevalence of trauma by age group in
adult males and females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Fig 104 Anterior view of right radius of subadult [973]
with possible greenstick fracture . . . . . . . . . . 107
Fig 105 Anterior view of adult male [374] with dislocation
of the right elbow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Fig 106 Posterior view of disarticulated right femur
[1055] showing amputation saw cuts . . . . . . . . 109
Fig 107 True prevalence of osteophyte formation by
vertebral joint in adult males and females . . . . . 110
Fig 108 True prevalence of Schmorls nodes by vertebral
joint in adult males and females . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Fig 109 True prevalence of intervertebral disc disease by
vertebral joint in adult males and females . . . . . 111
Fig 110 True prevalence of osteoarthritis by vertebral
joint in adult males and females . . . . . . . . . . 112
Fig 111 True prevalence of fusion by vertebral joint in
adult males and females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Fig 112 True prevalence of spinal joint disease by age
and sex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Fig 113 Distribution of all extra-spinal osteoarthritis . . . 113
Fig 114 Middle-aged male [451] showing severe
osteoarthritis in the joints of the bones of the
wrists and fingers of both hands . . . . . . . . . . 113
Fig 115 Medial view of femora of male [990] with severe
residual rickets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Fig 116 Anterior view of frontal bones of infant [596]
with suspected scurvy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Fig 117 Lytic lesion in the left orbit of probable male
adult [476] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Fig 118 Skeleton of male [647] showing widespread
lesions believed to result from osteoblastic
metastatic carcinoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Fig 119 Detail views of lesions in male [647] . . . . . . . 118
Fig 120 Radiograph of lower lumbar vertebrae, sacrum
and os coxae of male [647] showing marked
osteosclerosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Fig 121 Crude prevalence of cribra orbitalia by age group . 119
Fig 122 Anteroposterior view radiograph of the cranium of
George Cates [679] with Pagets disease of bone . . 120
Fig 123 Skeleton of probable male adult [483] with diagram
showing the distribution of diffuse exostoses typical
of diaphyseal aclasis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Fig 124 Detail views of bone from probable male adult
[483] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

TABLES

Table 21
Table 22
Table 23
Table 24

Table 1

Table 2
Table 3
Table 4
Table 5

Table 6

Table 7

Table 8
Table 9
Table 10
Table 11
Table 12
Table 13
Table 14

Table 15
Table 16
Table 17
Table 18
Table 19
Table 20

Annual average numbers of baptisms and

burials in St Marylebone parish for the years
177094 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Burial fees for St Marylebone and other burial
grounds in the parish, c 1838 . . . . . . . . . . .
Burials in St Marylebone parish, 17906 . . . . .
Types and numbers of monuments in the
Paddington Street north burial ground in 1885 .
Summary of burial monuments erected in the
Paddington Street north burial ground and in
the whole parish of St Marylebone for selected
years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Extract from the list of names and headstone
location numbers in the c 1885 index of graves,
from headstones that must have lain within or
close to the excavation area . . . . . . . . . . . .
Summary of addresses and occupations of
excavated named individuals, principally from
wills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Scotland family events from the St Marylebone
registers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Types of lead coffins with dates recorded at
Paddington Street north . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comparative later post-medieval burial ground
samples from London . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comparison of the demographic profiles of the
assessed sample and the subsample . . . . . . . .
Equipment specifications for extraoral DPT
imaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Equipment specifications for intraoral periapical
imaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comparison of radiographic dental subadult
age estimates with macroscopic and
documented age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inter-observer test results for ageing and
sexing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Demographic profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Proportions of subadults and adults compared
with contemporary London sites . . . . . . . . .
Documented age at death in 24 adults
compared with osteological ageing . . . . . . . .
Documented age at death in six subadults
compared with osteological ageing . . . . . . . .
Percentages of stacked graves containing adults

Table 25
.

Table 26
.

11
12

13

23

Table 27
Table 28
Table 29
Table 30
Table 31
Table 32

24

26

48

63

77

77

78

79

79

.
.

80
82

82

83

84

Table 33
Table 34
Table 35
Table 36
Table 37
Table 38
Table 39
Table 40
Table 41
Table 42
Table 43
Table 44
Table 45
Table 46
Table 47
Table 48
Table 49
Table 50
Table 51
Table 52
Table 53
Table 54
Table 55

and/or subadults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Adult stature compared with contemporary
London sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Male cranial indices compared with
contemporary London sites . . . . . . . . . . . .
Female cranial indices compared with
contemporary London sites . . . . . . . . . . . .
Male platymeric indices compared with
contemporary London sites . . . . . . . . . . . .
Female platymeric indices compared with
contemporary London sites . . . . . . . . . . . .
Male platycnemic indices compared with
contemporary London sites . . . . . . . . . . . .
Female platycnemic indices compared with
contemporary London sites . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cranial non-metric traits . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Post-cranial non-metric traits . . . . . . . . . . .
True prevalence of subadult dental pathology
by tooth or tooth position . . . . . . . . . . . . .
True prevalence of adult dental pathology by
tooth or tooth position . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
True prevalence of supra-gingival and subgingival calculus (by tooth) . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dental anomalies in the permanent dentition
as a percentage of observable teeth . . . . . . . .
True prevalence of vertebral border shifts . . . .
True prevalence of cleft neural arches . . . . . .
True prevalence of bifurcate neural arches . . . .
Crude prevalence of adult hallux valgus . . . . .
True prevalence of adult hallux valgus by side . .
Crude prevalence of periostitis . . . . . . . . . .
True prevalence of periostitis . . . . . . . . . . .
Crude prevalence of trauma . . . . . . . . . . . .
Summary of fracture types and mechanisms . . .
Crude prevalence of single and multiple
fractures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
True prevalence of cranial fractures . . . . . . . .
True prevalence of rib fractures by rib-cage and
number of ribs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
True prevalence of vertebral fractures . . . . . .
True prevalence of long bone fractures . . . . . .
True prevalence of hand and foot fractures . . . .
Distribution of soft tissue enthesopathies . . . . .
Crude prevalence of spinal joint disease . . . . .
True prevalence of spinal joint disease . . . . . .
Crude prevalence of rickets compared with
contemporary London sites . . . . . . . . . . . .
Crude prevalence of cribra orbitalia . . . . . . .
True prevalence of cribra orbitalia by severity . .
Crude prevalence of porotic hyperostosis in
males and females compared with contemporary
London sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

85

85

86

86

87

87

87

87
88
89

89

89

90

92
. 96
. 97
. 97
. 99
. 99
. 99
100
103
104
.

105
105
105
106
106
107
108
110
110
115
119
119

119

xi

SUMMARY

The Paddington Street north burial ground was one of two

additional graveyards which were developed by the parish of St
Marylebone in the 18th century, on either side of Paddington
Street, London W1. Marylebone grew from a semi-rural village
to a fashionable, wealthy and populous west London suburb
over the course of the 18th and 19th centuries, and as the
population increased so pressure mounted on places of worship,
on existing support structures for the least fortunate members
of society and on burial space in the parish churchyard on
Marylebone High Street. The response of the parish is seen in
the Paddington Street (south) burial ground which opened in
1733, the Paddington Street (north) burial ground which
opened in 1772 and the new workhouse complex, which lay
immediately to the north and opened in 1775.
The burial ground was consecrated by the Bishop of
London in 1772. From the outset it was intended as the more
exclusive of the Paddington Street graveyards. Parish records
make clear that the northern ground was used for the higher
degree of the inhabitants who pay the largest fees, and that
an area at the south end of the southern ground was set aside
for the burial of the poor. The ground was closed in 1853 along
with most other urban burial grounds. It was used for the
recreation of workhouse inmates until 1886, when it was
converted into a public garden.
Archaeological investigations took place in 201213 in
advance of the residential redevelopment of a former car park
site. The western boundary wall of the Paddington Street north
burial ground and three well-ordered rows of graves were found
to survive substantially intact but lay within the footprint of
the proposed new basement. This led to the excavation of
approximately 9% (by area) of the original graveyard. A total
of 386 skeletons were recorded from 124 single, stacked and
brick-lined graves, many of which were family plots. Graves
were up to 3.05m deep, with very little intercutting. Excavated
burial density was lower than documentary sources indicate for
the burial ground as a whole, suggesting that the excavated area
may have lain in a higher-status part of what was already seen
as the better of the two Paddington Street graveyards.
Unambiguous evidence for above-ground monuments was
limited to the brick footings of probable chest tomb structures,

xii

although contemporary parish records indicate that gravestones,

ledger slabs and other monuments would have been more
common.
There was a high incidence of burials with well-preserved
coffin plates which can be linked to biographical information,
particularly from parish records and wills. This reflects the
status of those using the burial ground. Notable individuals
include Honour Harnage, who accompanied her officer
husband to America and shared his incarceration during the
Revolutionary War, William Thornton, a major local landlord
and suicide, Lady Charlotte Wentworth and her servant
Elizabeth Wombersley, and the landowner and architect John
White. Of the excavated individuals whose occupations were
recorded in wills (ie males) all could be classified as either gentry
(including army officers and clergy) or tradesmen.
Most aspects of burial practice were as would be expected
for a burial ground of this date, although higher than usual
numbers of lead coffins and better-quality coffin plates again
reflect a wealthier than normal contributing population.
Burial finds are catalogued and include a range of items worn
by the deceased, such as gold wedding rings, a silver and glass
mourning ring, and a possible hair band or choker necklace.
Items deposited in the coffins include two glass phials, a portrait
miniature and, possibly, a sponge in a silver case, either a
vinaigrette or a contraceptive.
The osteological analysis of a sample of 291 skeletons
provided an opportunity to gain insights into the lives and
health of a sample from the upper echelons of society. The
demographic and health profile of the excavated population
reflects the benefits of a higher socio-economic lifestyle, with
subadults under-represented and considerable evidence of
longevity and survival into old age. Some factors, such as
pollution, or infection and illnesses like rickets and tuberculosis,
affected people of all backgrounds irrespective of class or
wealth. High status may have had a detrimental effect on the
health of some growing children, as fashionable feeding
practices contributed to stress and nutritional deficiencies. The
benefits of longevity were also tempered by diseases that often
afflict the old particularly dental disease, degeneration of the
joints and cancer. The number of skeletons with associated
biographical information also allowed a review of osteological
age and sex determination techniques.
This book forms a companion to the 2008 MOLA
monograph on St Marylebone church and churchyard (Miles et
al 2008). Together they present a picture of a well-to-do
suburban parish population in 18th- to 19th-century London,
which can be contrasted with poorer and Nonconformist burial
grounds in other parts of the capital and beyond.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

MOLA would like to thank Duncan Hawkins of CgMs for

commissioning the archaeological work on behalf of the client,
C J OShea Group Limited. The successful completion of the
excavation owed much to the assistance of Stefan Louw, project
manager for OShea. Valuable advice was provided by Diane
Abrams and Sandy Kidd of the English Heritage Greater London
Archaeological Advisory Service (GLAAS).
The excavation was led by Adrian Miles, assisted by Emily
Wright and archaeologists Hannah Bosworth, Howard Burkhill,
Harry Clarke, Rachel English, Steve Foster, Cat Gibbs, Cat
Godsiffe, Sarah Gore, Valerie Griggs, Ceilidh Hammill, Gemma
Jones, Heather Knight, Natasha McIntosh, Sophie Meyer, Tara
Mundy, Nina Olofsson, Gareth Rees, Leo Thomas, Helen Vowles
and Robin Wroe-Brown. Finds processing was supervised by

Sarah Matthews. Raoul Bull and Mark Burch provided geomatics

support in the field, and further survey and AutoCAD operations
were conducted by Moises Hernandez Cordero. Invaluable help
with the documentary research was provided by Sarah Ritchie.
Conservation was by Luisa Duarte, who also offered some
valuable observations on the more difficult objects.
The authors would like to thank the staff of City of
Westminster Archives for their assistance, particularly Rory
Lalwan for supplying a digital copy of the 1772 plan of the
burial ground (Fig 7). We are also grateful to David Allan for
providing his professional opinion on diagnosis of pathology.
MOLA, Paul Bland and Sophie Willis would like to thank the
Department of Radiography, City University London, for
facilitating the radiographic work. Beth Richardson is indebted
to Eleni Bide and Sophia Tobin at the Goldsmiths Company
library for identifying the hallmarks on the rings. Beatrice
Behlen at the Museum of London provided comments on the
clothing and mourning jewellery and Hazel Forsyth, also of the
Museum of London, identified the shagreen leather on the
portrait miniature case. Judy Rudoe at the British Museum
advised on the glass mourning ring and possible silver
vinaigrette.

xiii