‘Unearthed’ – Talk to Reveal Findings of Excavation Under Guildford’s Oldest Building

Published on: 17 Nov, 2023
Updated on: 17 Nov, 2023

By Martin Giles

Tomorrow (November 18), results of an excavation in St Mary’s Church in Quarry Street, the tower of which is Guildford’s oldest building, are to be revealed.

The floor, nave and footings for the new porch and lobby were excavated in 2019-20. A survey was carried out by Archaeology South East.

The talk to take place in the church will be given by Chris Russel of Archaeology South East and Dr Mary Alexander, formerly of Guildford Museum.

The excavation uncovered human remains, which were reinterred in the churchyard in a ceremony held on November 4.

In the order of service, it was said: “We must never forget that the individuals whose bones are to be reburied were once townsfolk of Guildford, who were originally given a Christian burial in their local church. Although their remains were disturbed in order to meet the needs of the present-day church, we treat them with the respect they deserve.

Some of the human remains found in the excavation at St Mary’s. Photo by kind permission of Archaeology South East/UCL ©.

“We cannot know their identities, but they represent our predecessors, and we acknowledge their lives, as individuals… honouring their parts, whether great or small, in the flow of life and of the history of this town many centuries ago.”