The primary aim of the watching brief was to provide a detailed record of any archaeological remains identified during the removal of the existing floor and subsequent ground reduction within the nave of St Bartholomew's, no excavation work was carried out in the chancel or tower. Following the discovery of ledger stones within the nave, a programme of rapid archaeological recording was undertaken, with a description and copy of all inscriptions produced, together with a detailed floor plan of the ledger stones in the nave. An archaeological watching brief was maintained following the removal of the floor to ensure that no articulated remains were disturbed, and that no charnel or fragments of human bone were removed from the church. All excavation was undertaken by hand. Material excavated from the floor in the nave was carefully sifted to check for human remains before being placed in rubble sacks and deposited in skips. Excavation commenced in the north aisle where is quickly became apparent that earth-cut burials, charnel deposits and brick lined crypts were present. The central and southern aisles also contained earth-cut burials, crypts and charnel deposits. All charnel deposits were inspected before being lifted to ensure that they were not part of an articulated burial. All excavation and recording associated with the crypts in the northern, central and southern aisles was undertaken under controlled archaeological conditions, whilst the lifting of the capping stones and the removal of the upper courses of brick work was undertaken by Lambert Walker Conservation and Restoration. In total, eight crypts and three articulated earth-cut infant burials were uncovered during the course of the work, with the potential for further crypts being identified but not investigated at the entrance to the church tower. In general, the crypts survived intact, and were in good condition. All eight crypts were opened by hand under close archaeological supervision with the capping stones being recorded, removed and stored within the churchyard. Crypt 2 was not opened, aside from the removal of two bricks in the eastern wall, and the original barrel-vault ceiling was left in-situ. The contents of each crypt were subject to rigorous archaeological recording before the upper two courses of brickwork in each crypt (except for Crypt 2) were removed. Each crypt was then stabilised and sealed using a superior concrete block-and-beam system in order to support the weight of the new stone floor.
Caroline Raynor (Tue,) studied this question.