A mass grave with over 4,500 bodies was discovered

In the area of ​​a historic building, a mass grave was discovered with over 4,500 corpses that constitute, according to archaeologists, “a dark chapter” of the city’s history.

The findings came to light after a five-year excavation at the site of Blackberry Hill Hospital in Stapleton, Bristol. The discovery was made known through the press release issued this week by the archaeologists.

The Cotswold Archaeological Service was appointed by Vistry contractors, who undertook the construction of the buildings on the site, to investigate the historic site, which has had various functions throughout the town’s history.

On completion of the first phase of archaeological excavation and analysis of the finds, the Cotswold Archaeological Service reported their findings to the Vistry, and the findings were awe-inspiring. The site was first built in the late 1700s, with the establishment of Stapleton Prison.

The function of the building during history

Over the following decades, the building housed prisoners of war from Britain’s conflicts with France, Spain, Holland and the US. With the growth of Bristol and the end of the wars, a new need arose – to establish a hospital.

Its location, on the outskirts of the city, made it possible to function as a hospital during the cholera outbreak of 1832, but within five years, it was converted into a workhouse, the “Stapleton Workhouse”.

From then until the beginning of the 20th^u century, the workhouse was a place for the poor and sick, who could not take care of themselves. Very often, inmates died there and were buried in unmarked graves, which have now been discovered, over 100 years later.

“A building with a dark history”

«One of the most shocking findings of the excavations was the discovery of more than 4,500,” he says Rosanna Price, Head of Cotswold Archaeological Service; The findings date back to the period of operation of the workhouse, from 1837 to the end of the 19^u century. Some burials even date back to the building’s early use, when it was a concentration camp for prisoners of war.

«The graves were revealed with a sense of respect for the history of the site, and the exhumation was carried out with the permission of the British Ministry of Justice and the service of the Diocese of Bristol.” explains.

«The findings offer valuable insight into the lives of ordinary people in 19th century Bristol^u century, who, due to poverty and destitution, ended up in the poorhouse”.

«The story behind these burials reflects a dark chapter in Bristol’s social history. The almshouse was the refuge of the city’s needy, offering asylum to those who fell into adverse times.”

“Poverty and Misery”

“Many of the people buried here lived in conditions of extreme poverty and disease. Studies on the remains, along with personal items found during the excavation, have helped archaeologists and historians decipher their life story, highlighting the social distinctions of the time.” says the archaeologist.

“Through these burials, we gain rare insights into the lives and deaths of Bristol’s poorest residents, a stark reminder of the hardships faced by many during the 19^u century. “Scientific analyzes continue as researchers study the findings to understand more about people’s lives, health and causes of death.” completes.

Before the Second World War, the workhouse functioned more as a hospital – Manor Park, then became Blackberry Hill Hospital, before its permanent closure in 2007.

“Point synonymous with the shameful death of the poor”

The discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at the site alludes to similar discoveries at the site of another workhouse in Bristol – Eastville Workhouse, whose address, 100 Fishponds Road, was synonymous (for working-class people) with the dishonorable death that they had to avoid.

In 2019, the secret mass grave was identified by the council following a detailed study of the area by historians, who revealed that in 1972 the council had hushed up the find, stacked the bones in boxes and moved them to an unnamed mass grave in Avonview Cemetery.

It is chilling that human bones are still visible on the surface of Rose Green, the park where the Easttville Workhouse stood.

At Blackberry Hill, the human remains discovered over the past five years have been treated more dignified. Most of the bones had been reburied at the site, in specially designed vaults, but studies are continuing uninterruptedly on specific finds, which will provide new knowledge.

“A memorial service is being planned for the final reburials to properly honor the souls of the people who lived and died here,” Rosanna Price reports.

Richard Leaman, the registrar of the Diocese of Bristol, said the process had been done with diligence. “The removal and reburial of the human remains was carried out in a legal and reverent manner, with a marker indicating the new burial site”he explains.

Excavation and research are not yet complete. “The study at the site continues, with the participation of teams of archaeologists and experts from its archaeological service Cotswold and academic partners”, explains.

“Finds from the excavation will be published in 2026, along with a schedule of public visits to share the findings.”