Cross Bones, Medieval cemetery in Southwark, London, England
Cross Bones is a medieval burial ground in Southwark that remains today as a small memorial site amid the modern cityscape. The site along Redcross Way comprises a narrow strip of land covered with ivy and separated from the pavement by a decorated iron gate.
The place served from the late 16th century as a graveyard for prostitutes who worked under the Bishop of Winchester's license and received no church burial after death. The ground remained in use until the mid-19th century when it closed due to unsanitary conditions.
The wrought iron gates serve as a living memorial where visitors tie colorful ribbons, flowers, and small messages honoring the outcasts buried here. This tradition connects people today with those who once found rest in this ground without ceremony or recognition.
Access is through the iron gates on the street and the space behind is small and can only be viewed from outside. Weekday opening hours allow for a brief visit during lunchtime in this busy area.
Excavations showed that many graves contained no coffins and bodies were placed in simple shrouds. The density of burials was so high that remains from several generations overlapped in the confined space.
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