The church had been declared redundant by the Church of England in 1971, meaning it was no longer used for regular services.

English Heritage eventually took over management of the building and the surrounding churchyard.

The decision to excavate systematically was significant.

Most medieval churchyards in England have been disturbed repeatedly over the centuries: new burials cutting through old ones, later building work, Victorian restoration projects.

The accumulated disruption means that finding intact, contextually secure medieval burials is far less common than the public often assumes.

St Peter’s was different.