A totally free exhibit revealing the life stories of Londoners throughout the 1700s and 1800s deals something various for a London day out this Spring. Opening to the general public on Wednesday 15th March at St James’s Church on Piccadilly, visitors will have the ability to delight in an interactive art setup checking out the lives of 5 individuals who were buried at St James’s Burial Ground beside Euston Station. The exhibit belongs to High Speed Two’s archaeology program.
Run by Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), among the business behind the historical excavation of the burial ground, the exhibit will appropriate for the entire family with the voices of past Londoners recharged through a fascinating audio experience. It will offer a unique insight into how individuals resided in a time of amazing development and modification in London.
The burial ground is connected to the church on Piccadilly, as the land in Euston was purchased in 1788 by St James’s Church Piccadilly for usage as an additional burial ground for the parish in between 1790 – 1853, making the place a fitting host for the exhibit.
Over 57,000 individuals were buried at St James’s Burial Ground and HS2’s archaeologists found out about how the website was set out in areas, according to just how much the departed or their households might pay. The exhibit highlights how individuals were buried and checks out a few of the uncommon items they were buried with.
Stories of St James’s Burial Ground will explore the lives of a range of individuals from throughout the Capital – from a lady buried with her family pet parakeet, to dressmaker Elizabeth Mercer and high-end business owner Charles Fortnum, the grand son of among the co-Founders of Fortnum and Mason.
Helen Wass, Head of Historic Environment at HS2, said:
“The careful excavation of St James’s Burial Ground next to Euston station has been one of the largest investigations on HS2’s extensive archaeological programme. The work was carried out with dignity, care and respect, and in keeping with those values, this exhibition will honour and tell the stories of the lives of those buried there. The interactive exhibition will be a thought-provoking insight into what life was like in London during a time of great social and economic change.”
Louise Fowler, Museum of London Archaeology, said:
“St James’s Burial Ground is a hugely significant project for archaeologists. Our ongoing research into the site is giving us the opportunity to ask important questions about a time of great change for London, creating a new picture of the people who lived in the Capital during the 1700s and 1800s. People from all levels of London’s society were buried at St James’s Burial Ground, from an earl to inmates from a workhouse in Soho. We’re really looking forward to sharing some of their fascinating stories in this new exhibition.”
The Revd Lucy Winkett, Rector of St James’s Church Piccadilly, said:
“The story of St James’s is the story of London. We’re looking forward to meeting our parishioners from the past, with such a wide variety of life experience, background and belief. Their stories intertwine with the modern-day parish of St James’s, Piccadilly and Soho, where everything has changed, but some things haven’t changed at all.”
The exhibit will range from 15th March to 1st April, and 10th – 23rd April and will be open Monday to Saturday in between 10am to 4:30pm and Sundays 12 – 6pm. There will likewise be 2 activity days where visitors will consult with archaeologists who dealt with the dig and are associated with continuous analysis, see a few of the incredible discovers that were exposed and get a cup of how to transcribe records from the burial ground. The activity days will occur on Tuesday 11th April in between 10am-4:30pm and Sunday 16th April in between 1:30 – 4:30pm.
The exhibit will transfer later on this year and will take a trip to Camden, offering more opportunities for individuals to get more information about the stories from the Burial Ground.
