ARU leads dig to unearth medieval leprosy hospital
Dr Samantha Tipper heads project in Lincoln following £248k Heritage Fund grant
A 13th Century illustration of a house for sufferers of leprosy
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) has secured £248,139 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to lead a major archaeological investigation of a medieval leprosy hospital in Lincoln, with the local community set to have a hands-on role in the project.
In partnership with the City of Lincoln Council, the three-year Hidden Histories Unearthed project will explore the site of the Hospital of the Holy Innocents on Lincoln’s South Common.
Led by ARU’s Dr Samantha Tipper, an expert in bioarchaeology, the project aims to uncover the stories of the people who lived, worked and died at the hospital, while helping to preserve and share the site’s remarkable heritage with the local community.
Leprosy is an infectious disease that affects the skin, peripheral nerves, skeleton and other areas of the body. Founded around the late 11th to early 12th century, the Hospital of the Holy Innocents was one of the earliest and largest leprosaria in England and is believed to have remained in use for five centuries.
Hidden Histories Unearthed builds on a successful pilot project undertaken by Dr Tipper and the City of Lincoln Council last year, which saw more than 100 volunteers, aged between four and 85, excavate 41 test pits across South Common. This work uncovered evidence of boundary walls, building surfaces and medieval artefacts linked to the hospital complex.
Over the next three years, Dr Tipper and ARU PhD students, in partnership with the City of Lincoln Council, will work with the University of Lincoln and local volunteers, groups and schools to carry out in-depth excavations, and the project will also include a series of local history cafe talks and heritage activities.
"We are delighted to be a partner in the Hidden Histories Unearthed project along with Anglia Ruskin University and to see this significant Heritage Fund investment helping to uncover an important chapter of Lincoln's past.
"The site of the Hospital of the Holy Innocents holds a fascinating and often overlooked story, and this three-year project will provide a unique opportunity to explore and better understand its history.
"Partnerships like this help bring history to life, strengthen community pride and ensure that our shared heritage is accessible to everyone. We look forward to working with our partners and seeing residents of all ages discover the hidden histories beneath their feet."
Cllr Rebecca Longbottom, Portfolio Holder for Remarkable Place at City of Lincoln Council
“Awareness of South Common’s medieval past has diminished over time. In fact, during last year’s pilot excavation, many local volunteers and visitors were surprised to learn that it was the site of a leprosarium.
“Thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players, this funding gives us a fantastic opportunity to recover a lost chapter of Lincoln’s history. By combining archaeological research with community participation, we hope to improve our understanding of the hospital complex and the people who lived and died there.
“By bringing together archaeologists, historians and local residents, we hope not only to uncover new evidence about this remarkable site, but also to inspire a deeper appreciation of Lincoln’s rich heritage. We look forward to sharing our discoveries with the community over the next three years.”
Dr Samantha Tipper, Senior Lecturer in Forensic Science, at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge