A larger excavation begins Friday at Lincoln’s Hospital of the Holy Innocents, founded around 1100 to care for people with leprosy. Test pits in 2025 found wall and surface traces; archaeologists hope new trenches will reveal more of the buildings.
The three-year project is led by Anglia Ruskin University and City of Lincoln Council, with a £248,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Volunteers, community groups and school excavations will take part, alongside history talks and heritage activities.
The hospital is thought to have operated for five centuries and housed about 20 residents, with accommodation for 10 men and 10 women. Senior lecturer Samantha Tipper says research suggests it may have been wealthier than previously assumed. She describes a calm religious community where residents had their own cells and access to fresh vegetables and meat.
