British king's tomb may lie under prison car park

The suspected tomb of King Henry I has been found in the remains of an abbey located beneath the car park of Reading Prison, Berkshire, England.

A tomb found at the ruins of Reading Abbey may be that of King Henry I. Photo: Reading Museum.

Archaeologists have discovered several tombs in the ruins of Reading Abbey while searching for the resting place of King Henry I, BBC reported on September 12.

Reading Abbey was founded in 1121 by King Henry I (1068 – 1136). It is where the king was buried after his death in January 1136 in Normandy, northwestern France. Today, the site is the car park of Reading Prison, Berkshire, England.

The British Ministry of Justice, which owns the prison, has allowed 12 archaeologists to carry out excavations to determine how deep beneath the prison grounds the monastery lies.

Using radar technology to scan the Abbey Quarter, the former site of Reading Abbey, archaeologists found three or four graves next to or behind the abbey's main altar. The discovery is seen as a major step towards finding the remains of King Henry I.

Image of King Henry I. Photo: BBC

"These graves could be of important people because they are located inside the monastery, they cannot be the graves of serfs," commented Mullaney, a local historian.

“Following these initial results, there is still much work to be done. The search could bring significant cultural, historical and economic benefits to the Abbey Quarter,” said Reading City Councillor Tony Page.

Around $4 million has been earmarked for a project to preserve the ruins of Reading Abbey and its gatehouse. It is expected to reopen in 2018.

According to VNE