The Secret Skull Crypt of Kent

St Leonard’s Church, Hythe, Kent, has the largest and best-reserved collection of ancient human bones and skulls in Britain.

Over one thousand skulls lie on the shelves in four arched bays, and one single stack of bones is over 1.8m in height.

UK based photographer Darragh Field visited the collection in June 2017 to see the morbid collection.

He said: "It's the best collection of ancient bones and skulls in the country and one of only two ossuaries in the UK, so I had to go and see for myself.

"The bones were thought to be remnants of those who fell in the battle of Hastings, but it turns out they were local residents from the 13th to 15th century. The remains are mostly female with only a few skulls showing signs of trauma from blows.”

Although it is impossible to estimate the number of bones in the collection, recent work has guessed that the total of individuals represented in the stack is approximately 2,000.

A number of the skulls indicate breakages and injury, whilst others have evidence of disease from deficiencies and infection.

Despite the macabre setting, the photographer found the atmosphere calming.

He said: "It felt serene and peaceful, it’s very atmospheric and very well kept, a real hidden gem.

"There is no doubt looking at a wall of human skulls is not your everyday experience but this didn't feel sad or oppressive as these people mostly died from natural causes.”

In an ironic twist, one of the skulls had signs of life after death.

Darragh said: "The best surprise I got from the crypt was seeing a birds nest in one of the skulls!”