St Marylebone School (MBH04)

Clients: The Governors and Trustees of St Marylebone School

Author: George Dennis

Site supervisor: Adrian Miles

An extension to the school for a new underground sports hall necessitated removal of most of the original cemetery of the medieval and later village. Although 14th-century in origin, field evaluation carried out for the client confirmed that the adjacent parish church was totally rebuilt in the 18th century. The graveyard contained burials from c 1750 to 1850, when it was closed and the church was demolished after bomb damage in WWII.

Marylebone was an attractive and fashionable location during this period and there was a social cachet to burial in the old churchyard (as opposed to the 'overflow ground' near the workhouse). Several prominent people are known to have been buried there including Charles Wesley and the painter George Stubbs. Marylebone attracted a variety of residents, including French aristocracy fleeing the Revolution and a champion bare knuckle boxer.

A sample area was fully excavated, with a watching brief over the burial contractor for the remainder. Work took place over 10 weeks during the early part of 2005 finishing in May.

This site report is extracted from MoLAS 2005: annual review