Thousands of bodies under Bath Abbey threaten its stability

[microrobert]

Thousands of bodies under Bath Abbey threaten its stability

For more than 300 years, thousands of people have been buried just below the stone flooring of Bath Abbey.

It is estimated that up to 6,000 bodies have been “jammed in” to shallow graves under the church’s grave ledger stones.

Now as the floor of the 500-year-old building begins to lift and collapse, the abbey has discovered “huge great voids everywhere” beneath its flooring.

"It’s where previous burials and graves have settled down and left voids," said Charles Curnook, from the abbey.

"We were quite surprised the floor hadn’t collapsed already on us."

Bath Abbey, which dates back to 1499, sits on the remains of a massive Norman cathedral.

BBC News - Thousands of bodies under Bath Abbey threaten its stability

[Fortis in Arduis]

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