Creepy restoration: they find 80 skeletons under the floor of the dream house

When Lucy and Rhys Thomas bought a deconsecrated 12th century church in South Wales, they knew that the renovation project would have held some surprises. But no one, not even the most expert archaeologist, could have imagined that their new living area rested on a real medieval necropolis.

The transformation of St. Peters Churcha Grade I listed monument founded in 1142, has turned into an archaeological thriller. As workers lifted the ancient stone slabs to install modern conveniences, the count of human remains began to rise dramatically. “The archaeologist had reassured us: ‘we will find a maximum of five or six bodies’ – Lucy Thomas, 53, told Metro – ‘instead, as we dug, more than 80 emerged'”.

The archaeological discovery and the privilege of burial

According to experts, the discovery is not accidental. In centuries past, being buried within the consecrated walls was a privilege reserved for influential figures, members of the clergy or wealthy families. What the Thomases found is a snapshot of the Welsh society from almost a millennium ago.

The unusual choice: coexistence with the ancestors

Instead of panicking or blocking the work indefinitely, the couple chose an unusual path: the coexistence. After realizing that they were entire families, husbands alongside their wives, parents with children, the spouses decided to do not remove the remains. “It was unpleasant at first, but we got used to it. We decided to leave them in theirs final resting place and continue to build around them,” explained Lucy. The result is a bold mix of the sacred, the profane and the macabre.

Details of the renovation and modern comfort

The details of the renovation I’m no different. The underfloor heatingfor example, was installed directly above the burial site to ensure the modern comfort. The original stone floor carvings have been recovered to create a unique outdoor area. The tower, the bells and the original walls from 900 years ago they remained intact. Inside the structure there is now space for a bar area and a hot tub.

The do-it-yourself business and the luxury residence

Despite the monumental complexity of the building, Rhys Thomas, 45, admitted that much of the work was the result of intuition and personal research. “It was challenging, we learned along the way – he declared, adding with a touch of British irony – we spent a lot of time doing Google searches“. Today, after four years of effort, the St. Peters Church it is no longer just a ruin of Welsh history, but one luxury residence where the border between the world of the living and the dead is separated by only a few centimeters radiant screed.