TV role for warrior

THE skeleton of a man who died a bloody death in Lewes more than 700 years ago is to be the subject of a new television programme.

The bones were discovered when archaeologists excavated the old Western Road Primary School site in Spital Road in 1994 prior to its conversion to a social services centre.

Research had shown the school to stand on the site of a medieval hospital and more than 100 bodies were discovered in the dig.

What made this particular skeleton so interesting were his vicious head wounds, evidence of a savage sword attack.

It is strongly believed that the man, aged between 18 and 35, was one of the many hundreds cut down during the Battle of Lewes on May 14, 1264.

The wounds are largely to the back of his head, indicating that he was probably running away at the time and therefore likely to be a member of the defeated Henry III's army.

He probably met his fate near the Westgate walls and was taken, dying or dead, to the hospital where he was later buried.

The skeleton is the subject of a programme Unknown Soldier in the Channel 4 series Tales from the Grave.

In the programme, to be broadcast on April 26, archaeologist Lucy Sibun, who works for Archaeology South-East, based in Ditchling, goes in search of the skeleton's story.

Also featured in the programme is the county council's assistant county archaeologist Martin Brown, based in Lewes, to whom Lucy turns for information on the battle.

Said Martin: 'At least two of the head wounds would have killed him. One sword slash took off part of his skull, which remained attached to his head as it was found next to him in his grave.

'From the angle of the blows, it is clear that he was struck from behind by a man or men on foot and not horseback.'

The 100 skeletons from Spital Road will be re-buried in consecrated ground when research ends.