2-798-916 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The cists in Southover Church, 1845. 11th-century human remains found in the ruins of the 'ancient Priory of Lewes' in Sussex, during the construction of a railway line. '...the workmen exposed a leaden Cist, or coffer, surrounded by a few square Caen stones. After clearing away the soil, the Cist was carefully removed, and, on being opened, was found to contain human bones, proved to be the remains of Gundreda, daughter of William the Conqueror, the name "GVNDRADA," as it is spelt, being cut upon the lid....'. A second cist was found, '...and on the lid is inscribed WILLMs, an old but usual way of writing Gulielmus. This has been readily interpreted into the name of William of Warren; by this means establishing the fact that these Cists contain the remains of Gundreda, the founder of the Priory, and of her lord, the first Earl of Warren and Surrey'. From "Illustrated London News", 1845, Vol VII.