Project News

By 2027, our project to unlock the mystery of our mortuary chests will reach its conclusion after more than 15 years of intensive research. 

This is one of the longest and most ambitious research initiatives at Winchester Cathedral in modern times and has involved the expertise of many specialist academics, conservators, staff members and volunteers. 

The academics at the heart of this research are Dr Heidi Dawson-Hobbis and Professor Kate Robson Brown. Please direct any related enquiries for Dr Dawson-Hobbis and Professor Robson Brown to Lucy Rouse in the first instance. 

The project’s findings will be highly significant in the fields of archaeology, history and genetics, demonstrating the combined power of science, the study of human remains and historical research to discover new information about the six mortuary chests and their occupants which would not have been available to us a generation ago. 

Permission is now being sought from the Cathedrals Fabric Commission to reinter bones in Winchester Cathedral’s mortuary chests. 

Notices around the Cathedral are part of our standard application process to the Cathedrals Fabric Commission who will review and consider our application for this work. 

A spokesperson for Winchester Cathedral said: “The Mortuary Chests Project is one of the longest and most ambitious research initiatives at the Cathedral in modern times, and has involved the expertise of many specialist academics, conservators, staff and volunteers. 

“First begun in 2012, the project’s findings – which will be published in 2026 – will be highly significant to the fields of archaeology, history and genetics, demonstrating the combined power of science, archaeology and historical research to unlock new information about the chests and their occupants. Proposals for the reinterment of the bones recovered from the chests have been submitted to the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England for review.”