THE ‘STRONG-ROOM’ AT PETERBOROUGH.
We have already referred (see Journal, [page 464]) to the singular revelation of a regular system of medieval ‘jerry-building’ found to have existed in Peterborough Cathedral; and we have now to record another interesting discovery, by which the old ‘strong-room’ of the church has been brought to light. In excavating for the foundations of the piers of the new central tower, some ancient masonry was found deep below the surface, which was at once pronounced to be the remains of the original Saxon church, which, together with the monastery, had been destroyed by the marauding Danes. These remains indicated that the former church occupied nearly the position of the present one; and whilst these antiquarian researches were going on, speculation was rife as to a certain crypt or chamber supposed to exist close under the floor of the present church, as indicated by Gunton, who wrote the History of the cathedral not very long after its narrow escape from the hands of Cromwell’s soldiers.
Accordingly, a careful search was made by Dean Perowne and the clerk of the works, to the north of the great central tower, and bordering on the south end of the north transept; when the accuracy of their calculations was proved, and their labours rewarded by the discovery, immediately under the pavement, of an underground chamber measuring six feet three inches in length, by four feet wide, and six feet high. A curved flight of steps rises from one side of the chamber, whilst a straight flight leads off at one end, and both ascend directly to the floor of the church above. The vault was found to be filled with all sorts of apparent rubbish in stone and metal. On close inspection, however, much of this proved to be parts of the choir-screen, which, from its great beauty, had been the glory of the church and the admiration of historians for centuries, but which, at the sacking of the church by Cromwell’s soldiers in 1643, had been pulled to the ground with ropes, and then smashed to pieces. The rest of the contents consisted of pieces of stone, forming parts of what had once been, apparently, a reredos; bits of stained glass, which lost their colour on exposure to the air; fragments of broken swords and pikes; pieces of leathern scabbards; bits of charred wood; and a quantity of bones of animals, probably sheep, which had been used for food.
On the chamber being cleared and closely examined, competent authorities pronounced the floor to be much older work than the rest of the vault, and it is not impossible that this might have been part of the floor of the original Saxon church. It was composed of large flags, several of which had been violently disturbed, possibly by Cromwell’s looters, in their search for spoil, and in the thought of finding another hidden chamber still lower down. Whether or not they found any valuables does not appear to be known; but the supposition is that they did not, or it would have been referred to by contemporary historians.
Opinions seem divided as to the use of this vault. The more general opinion appears to be that it was nothing more or less than the ‘strong-room’ of the monastery. In medieval times, secrecy was often more trusted in than locks and bars; for the latter, force and patience might ultimately overcome; but a hidden secret would be a secret still; and in the present instance, as there was not the smallest outward indication of the existence of such a chamber, so long as the secret was kept inviolate, the chamber and its contents were safe. All the facts in connection with this interesting discovery being taken into careful consideration, the conclusion may be safely arrived at, that this chamber or vault was indeed the ‘strong-room’ or ‘safe,’ contrived and cleverly concealed centuries ago, beneath the floor of the great cathedral, for the purpose of containing the money and treasures belonging to the community of the monastery of Peterborough, and now so unexpectedly laid open to the eager gaze of admiring antiquaries and architects of this present year of grace 1884. Perhaps discoveries of still deeper interest are in store for us from amongst the foundations of this grand medieval fane.