Without attempting to answer the queries of MR. GATTY, (No. 11. p. 171.)
I venture to send a note on the subject. I believe it will generally be
found that the local tradition makes such collections of bones to be
"the grisly gleanings of some battlefield." One of the most noteworthy
collections of this kind that I have seen is contained in the crypt of
Hythe Church, Kent, where a vast quantity of bones are piled up with
great regularity, and preserved with much care. According to a written
statement suspended in the crypt, they are the relics of Britons and
Saxons slain in a battle fought on the beach in the sixth century; the
local tradition is nearly to the same effect, but of course is of little
value, as it has most likely arisen from or been conformed to this
"written chronicle;" both writing and tradition must indeed be regarded
with distrust. It is affirmed in the neighbourhood that the bones were
_dug up_ from the beach; but I, at least, could hear of no tradition as
to the period when they were exhumed. Perhaps some resident will
ascertain whether any such exists.
The bones have all the appearance of considerable antiquity; yet they
are in excellent preservation. The skulls are remarkably white and
perfect, and are altogether a very curious collection, differing greatly
in size, form, and thickness. The holes and fractures in many of them
(made evidently during life) leave no doubt that they belonged to
persons who met with a violent death.
I will not pretend to reply to the concluding queries of your
correspondent, but I would just remark that, from what we know of the
feeling of our ancestors respecting the remains of the dead, it appears
probably that if from any cause a large quantity of human bones were
found, or were from any cause obliged to be disturbed, some ecclesiastic
or pious layman would take measures to have them removed to some
consecrated spot where they might be safe from further molestation. They
would hardly be treated in any such manner as Dr. Mantell states the
bones removed by the railway engineers from the Priory ground at Lewes
were treated. I remain, sir, your very obedient servant,