Couple Shocked to Find Over 80 Human Skeletons While Transforming a 900-Year-Old Church into Their Dream Home

Some people talk about a figurative “skeleton in the closet.” For one couple in the U.K., the discovery was far more literal — dozens of skeletons beneath the floor of their newly renovated home.

While converting a 900-year-old medieval church into their dream house, Lucy and Rhys Thomas uncovered more than 80 sets of human remains buried within the church floors in Peterstone Wentlooge, Wales, Lucy told the British newspaper Metro.

According to Lucy, an archaeologist initially expected they’d find only a handful of bodies. But once the work began, it quickly became clear there were far more than anyone anticipated. She also learned that in earlier centuries, churches were sometimes used as burial sites for “influential, religious or rich people.”

She said the first discoveries were unsettling, but that feeling eased over time. Some remains appeared to be buried together — including husbands and wives, and parents with children. Ultimately, the couple chose to leave the remains undisturbed in their resting places and continue the renovation around them.

The project involved transforming the Grade I-listed St. Peters Church — founded in 1142 — into a livable home. Metro reported the conversion took four years, with the couple preserving key original features such as the church walls, tower and bells.

They also repurposed stone-floor engravings for a patio.

As for modern upgrades, Metro noted the home now includes underfloor heating (installed above the remains), a bar area and a hot tub.

“It was a bit of a challenging job — we just learnt as we went along,” Rhys told Metro. “We spent lots of time googling.”