Excavations at the medieval leprosy hospital of St Mary Magdalen, Winchester

Since 2008 extensive archaeological excavations have been conducted at the former hospital and leprosarium of St Mary Magdalen, Winchester, Hampshire, England. This work represents the first wide scale excavation of an English leprosarium and cemetery dating to the later 11th century. Research at Winchester has allowed for the cross-comparison of different forms of archaeological data, including cemetery, artefactual and structural material, and provides an important insight into the origins and development of one of the earliest excavated hospitals in the country. This paper provides the first detailed interim report of the results of these important excavations to date. Little is known about the form of early leprosaria, and despite limited documentary references, there is no archaeological evidence for such institutions prior to 1100. This paper also considers the importance of such research in its wider context.