Rock-cut tombs next to the ruins of the 8th-century St Patrick's Chapel in Heysham, Lancashire, in England.
Rock-cut tombs next to the ruins of the 8th-century St Patrick's Chapel in Heysham, Lancashire, in England. When exactly the tombs were carved is not known for certain, but it is believed they predate the Norman Conquest in the 11th century AD (probably dating to between the 7th and 11th centuries). They are carved into the bedrock and originally would have been covered with heavy stone slabs and crosses fitted into sockets at the head of the graves. It is not known who was buried here. The information board states that it is thought the graves contained disarticulated bones, rather than complete skeletons—perhaps the remains of saints or important Christians. Check the comment section for photos of the ruined chapel and pictures showing how it may have looked in its day, including the rock-cut tombs and a then and now comparison. Thank you.