A dream home renovation turned into a chilling discovery for one couple when they unearthed a disturbing secret hidden beneath the very foundations of their new property.
Lucy, 53, and Rhys Thomas, 45, were captivated by the historic St Peter’s Church, a Grade I listed building they had often passed. When it went up for sale, they seized the opportunity, envisioning it as their perfect dream home. The listing advertised it as a five-bedroom house, leading them to believe that a conversion to residential use had already been completed. However, upon their initial viewing, they were met with a stark reality: the building was very much still a church, requiring a complete and extensive renovation.
Despite this daunting prospect, the couple proceeded to purchase the 900-year-old former place of worship at auction for £405,000. They were aware of a potential, albeit minor, historical footnote: there might be a few bodies buried beneath the floor. It was a common practice in the past for wealthy or influential individuals to be interred within church walls. But here's where it gets truly unsettling...
What they were not prepared for was the sheer scale of what lay beneath. As they began to lift the original floorboards, they made a startling and grisly discovery. Instead of the expected handful of remains, they uncovered a staggering total of 83 individuals interred within the church, which was originally founded in 1142.
Lucy, a mother of five, explained that out of profound respect for the deceased, they made the decision to leave the bodies in situ. They then proceeded to lay a new floor directly over them, even incorporating underfloor heating. "We needed to have an archaeologist present when we started digging up the floor," Lucy recounted. "They said to me, 'because we were digging down 40 centimetres, we would inevitably going to find a body somewhere as in the past often influential, religious or rich people in the community would be buried within the floors of the church'."
Initially, they were apprehensive, expecting perhaps five or six burials. And this is the part most people miss... the reality far exceeded their expectations. "The first few were uncomfortable but we gradually warmed to the process," Lucy admitted. They observed that people were buried together, including spouses and parents with children, which solidified their decision to preserve their final resting places.
The ambitious four-year renovation project, which concluded after they acquired the property in 2021, was described by Lucy as a "huge battle and accomplishment." The Welsh family had purchased the church shortly after the Covid-19 pandemic. Their initial understanding was that they were viewing a property already converted into a home, not a structure that still required extensive work, despite having planning permission for a change of use. "We were surprised to find that it was still a church," Lucy stated. "When we finally got to see inside it, it was apparent the work hadn’t been done – we thought we were viewing a five-bed house!"
But was it truly a missed opportunity or a blessing in disguise? The couple had no intention of undertaking such a monumental task, but they found themselves utterly captivated by the building's inherent charm. For the first 18 months, their progress was hampered by the wait for planning permission. Rhys noted, "It was a bit of a challenging job – we just learnt as we went along. We spent lots of time googling and joining listed building groups."
They meticulously removed the 100-year-old floor, which was then repurposed by a stonemason into a patio, preserving all original engravings and stones. A local builder was engaged to manage the conversion, which ingeniously incorporated a mezzanine flitch frame, a hybrid metal and wood structure. This design allowed them to retain many of the church's original architectural elements. "We employed builders to do the works as between us we can barely change a bulb!" Lucy joked. The original church walls remain untouched, and they even manage a bell tower, complete with eight bells that required repairs and new ropes.
While preserving the historical essence, the couple also integrated modern amenities, including secondary glazing, underfloor heating, a snooker table, a grand piano, a bar area, and a large hot tub. The once-dilapidated church has been transformed into a magnificent six-bedroom, six-bathroom property, now available for bookings on Airbnb.
Lucy expressed immense pride in their achievement, acknowledging the contributions of their children, architects, builders, and especially Rhys for managing the finances. "We have put our hearts and souls into this – and would do it again in a heartbeat."
Now, considering the unexpected discovery and the immense effort involved, would you dare to undertake such a renovation? Or is the thought of unearthing such secrets too unsettling? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
