In a remarkable tale of the unexpected, a couple renovating a medieval church in Wales have stumbled upon a morbid surprise – dozens of human skeletons buried beneath their future home. Lucy and Rhys Thomas, who purchased the 900-year-old St Peter’s Church in Peterstone Wentlooge for £405,000 in 2021, were shocked to find that their dream of converting the historic building into a family home would involve living atop more than 80 human remains.
The couple, who fell “hook, line, and sinker” for the church’s charm despite needing a full transformation, were initially warned that there might be “five or six” bodies under the floor, as was common for influential or religious figures to be buried within the church. However, as the excavation progressed, “body after body” was unearthed, eventually totalling 83 skeletons.
“We didn’t know this, so we were a bit apprehensive – but they said we would only find about five or six bodies, when they started digging, it became apparent there was a lot more than we first envisioned,” said Lucy, 53.
Rather than disturbing the final resting place of the deceased, the Thomases decided to leave the skeletons in situ, covering them with heating and flooring as the renovation continued. “People were buried together – husbands and wives, parents with children, so we decided to leave them in their final resting places and continue the build around them,” Lucy explained.
The four-year project to transform the Grade I-listed church into a modern family home has been a challenging one, with the couple learning as they went along. “It was a bit of a challenging job – we just learnt as we went along,” said Rhys, 45. “We spent lots of time googling and joining listed building groups.”
Despite the unexpected discovery, the Thomases have managed to maintain many of the church’s original features, including the 100-year-old stone floor and the towering bell tower. The renovated home now boasts a range of modern comforts and luxuries, including double glazing, underfloor heating, a snooker table, a bar area, and even a hot tub.
The church’s unique history and the couple’s decision to preserve the discovered remains have captured the public’s imagination, with the property now listed on Airbnb, allowing others to experience the extraordinary blend of ancient and modern.
