A display about Square Chapel
The latest display created by Gill, one of the Reference and Local Studies team, is a snapshot of the resources we hold about Square Chapel, including the excavation of skeletons carried out prior to the building of the new Central Library (yes it will happen this year!). The Halifax Courier published an article about the work which gives a useful synopsis of the results. Over 200 skeletons were discovered in graves and some of the results of the analysis of the graves and their contents was quite surprising, particularly regarding the health of the people. Many were found to be from middle class backgrounds; living to quite old ages for the period (1772 – 1860’s) but with a problem that we think of as a very 20th century one – rotting teeth due to high consumption of sugary foods (and without the dental care we have).
The West Yorkshire Archaeological Services has produced the information in two substantial volumes which takes you through the history of the Chapel, the excavation process and a great deal of detail about the condition of the skeletons.
