An exhumed mummy in St. Stephen's Crypt in Westminster. Chalk lithograph by J. Basire after George Scharf, 1852.

"The Committee appointed by the Council on the 20th January, 1852, to investigate the circumstances attending the recent discovery of a body in St. Stephen's Chapel, Westminster, with power to have drawings made and with directions to report to the Society, beg to report, that, having obtained the necessary permission from Charles Barry, Esq., and secured the services of Mr. Scharf as draughtsman, they proceeded, on Friday the 23rd January, to the crypt under the Chapel of St. Stephen, Westminster, where the body in question had been discovered. It had been found altogether unexpectedly by the workmen employed in removing a projection in the wall, which projection occupied the base of the window nearest to the altar on the north side of the chapel. The projection had been used as a stone bench or seat, and the body was found inserted in the wall a short distance under the seat. The wall was rubble-built, and the cavity in which the remains were deposited had certainly not been built or formed over the remains, but had been excavated with a view to their reception. The cavity used as a grave having been thus formed, and being just of sufficient length to receive the remains, the opening into it had been carefully built up again after the interment had taken place, so as to leave no trace of there being anything unusual within. The lower surface or bed of the receptacle or grave was perfectly smooth; the upper or arched surface over the body, rough and uneven, no pains having been taken in levelling or finishing any other part of the cavity than that on which the remains rested. The drawing No. 1 (Plate XXX.) indicates the character of this singular place of interment. The body lay extended with the feet to the east. It was swathed in cerements of strong, coarse, thick cloth or canvas, but was entirely destitute of coffin, or any apparent substitute. Around this swathing, for about two-thirds of the length of the trunk from the hips upward, were several turns of a well-made twisted cord, fastened in what is called the half-hitch, in good preservation. Across the body was a wooden crosier, lying diagonally from the left shoulder to the right leg, the crook being over the shoulder, the point resting to the right of the foot. The crosier measured six feet two inches in length; the crook is filled by a carved leaf. The drawing No. 2 (Plate XXXI.) very accurately delineates this interesting relic. The crook of the crosier is of oak, and the staff of deal. Three-fourths of the upper arms, or humeri, were included in the swathing of the trunk. The fore or lower arms were unswathed, and had consequently gone to decay. The Committee were informed that the bones of the right arm had been originally found placed across the breast, as if extended towards the crosier; but the bones, having become detached, had been removed by the workmen. The length of the figure from the vertex to the heel was five feet eight inches; to the point of the toes, as they had been extended in swathing, five feet eleven inches; the breadth across the shoulders was fifteen inches; across the pelvis thirteen inches and a half. The drawing No. 1 may be again referred to as illustrating the appearance of the body as at first seen. On the feet, and secured by the swathing, were leathern soles, the remains of sandals, which were slightly moist and flexible. A medicated odour was thought by some persons present to proceed from the wrapping. Such were the leading particulars of the appearance presented by the remains as the Committee at first saw them in the position in which they were discovered, but the lower limbs were still in part concealed by mortar and broken fragments of the wall. …"--Report of the Committee appointed by the Council of the Society of Antiquaries, op. cit., p. 406

Next to the mummy was a crozier, indicating that the deceased was possibly a bishop. The committee of the Society of Antiquaries concluded that it was the body of William Lyndewode (William Lyndwood), ca. 1375–1446, administrator, ecclesiastical lawyer, and bishop of St David's, Pembrokeshire. "His will was proved on 26 November 1446, and his body was buried in St Stephen's Chapel in the palace of Westminster, following the desires expressed in the will. The later history of the burial spot is uncertain, but in 1852 a body with a crosier thought to be Lyndwood's was discovered in the crypt. It was reinterred in Westminster Abbey in the north wall of the north cloister, a short distance from the east entrance door. The black marble ledger, under which it rests, is unfortunately now invisible because of construction carried out at a later date around the cloister door."--Oxford dictionary of national biography

London : Published for the Society of Antiquaries of London, 23 April 1852.

1 print : chalk lithograph ; image 10.5 x 18.2 cm

The mummy in St. Stephen's Crypt Westmr. previous to its removal. George Schar del. Jany. 23rd 1852. J. Basire lith.

The committee that commissioned the print consisted of: James Prior, T.J. Pettigrew, W.J. Thoms, John Bruce, and J.Y. Akerman

'XXXII. Report of the Committee appointed by the Council of the Society of Antiquaries to investigate the circumstances attending the recent discovery of a body in St. Stephen's Chapel, Westminster. Read February 12, 1852', Archaeologia, 1852, Vol. XXXIV, pp. 406-430

Wellcome Collection 45270i