St Mary in the Castle
The Crypt
This strangely tranquil part of the building is the last resting place of many well-known residents of the town.
The Crypt is a symbol of the great Victorian love affair with death which was very much a feature of everyday life.
Three out of every 20 babies died before their first birthday and life expectancy was about 40 years. This fuelled an intense belief in resurrection and a period that's often referred to as 'the golden age' of the funeral where great fortunes were lavished on coffins, wakes and graves.
The residents buried in the Crypt would have been amongst the most wealthy and well respected in the town and by reading the many inscriptions you can gain profound insight into their way of life and death.
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