Mortuary Chests
Step into a remarkable chapter of English history
High on the walls of the Presbytery inside Winchester Cathedral are six painted wooden caskets. These caskets, believed to contain the bones of early medieval bishops and royals, are known as mortuary chests.
Since 2012, the Cathedral has been involved in a long-term research project to better understand the chests and the people interred within them. Working with partners such as the University of Winchester and the Francis Crick Institute in London, the project uses modern and emerging scientific technologies to reveal unique insights into the chests and their occupants. Learn more the extraordinary work of specialist researchers and see the chests on display when you visit.
