Six Hundred years ago - even before the tower of Gloucester's famous
Cathedral was built - this man was laid to rest in a grave outside the
then thriving Llanthony Priory.

He lay there undisturbed, until this week when archaeologists
surveying the area in preparation for the Gloucester Quay's
regeneration scheme uncovered his skeleton. It is thought the remains
from Medieval times could belong to a monk or another member of the
priory. The skeleton was discovered lying between the remains of the
old priory and the Gloucester to Sharpness canal near the Business
Park on Llanthony Road.

Andrea Burgess, of Scott Wilson Consultants, which is leading the
archaeology study, said: "It is likely that these are the remains of a
member of the medieval priory community.

"The bones are in good condition and are those of an adult male,
probably in his late 30s or 40s. After the Priory fell into ruin, the
position of the church and churchyard would have been forgotten and
other burials were almost certainly disturbed during the construction
of the canal and the railways."

The archaeological survey is being carried out on the site as part of
an environmental assessment report that has already been submitted to
the city council, to assist them with their decision on the Gloucester
Quays planning application.

A total of 10 trenches have been excavated in the Llanthony Wharf,
Bakers Quay areas of the city, the largest of which was 30m in length
and 4m deep.

A planning decision on the £200 million multi-use regeneration scheme
currently being proposed by joint developers British Waterways and
Peel Holdings Ltd is expected before the end of the year.