London’s Crypts and Catacombs aims to guide the reader around London’s post-medieval and early modern burial vaults, crypts and catacombs in this small and accessible volume. Written by both a historian and an archaeologist it provides an interdisciplinary view of the various burial forms encountered in London.
At first glance, the volume is very small, a mere 96 pages. The fascinating subject of London’s burials could easily span a much larger volume; however, Bard and Miles pack a lot into such a small book. Following a clear and informative introductory chapter, the book then goes on to describe the various types of burials encountered in London and the types of places they are to be encountered: churchyard and burial ground vaults, church crypts, crypts following the 1711 Act for building fifty new churches, 19th century churches and lastly, catacombs. Each chapter contains good quality images, either historical or from the present day, which is an engaging addition to the text.
The main highlight of this book is the integration of both historical and archaeological information. The majority of burial examples given are supported by information such as when and why they were excavated, as well as details from historical sources, such as how much a burial would have cost at the time.
The volume is purely descriptive, aiding its function as more of a guide book rather than a detailed history of London’s post-medieval and early modern burials. Its vivid images and useful website links at the end of the book would be an aid to those readers actually intending to visit the locations referenced within the book, and its small size practical enough to take along on visits. The only negative of this volume is its exceptionally abrupt ending. The authors introduce the City of London Cemetery, along with some images and then the volume ends with no concluding remarks or summary. While this does not hinder its usefulness as a guide book, it does leave the reader feeling a little dissatisfied.
Overall, London’s Crypts and Catacombs by Robert Bard and Adrian Miles is a concise and functional little volume. The book is ideal as an introduction to the types of burials found within the City and where they are located. The volume is a perfect travel companion to those wishing to visit some of London’s burial sites, containing engaging images and a pleasant amount of historical information to aid the reader through their journey of London’s burial vaults, crypts and catacombs.