Florence Welch’s dream of restoring a historic Somerset estate could bring her face-to-face with something far darker than structural challenges.
The Florence & The Machine frontwoman has been granted planning permission and listed building consent to reunify four ancient dwellings into a single home known as Beckington Abbey.
But amid the architectural ambitions lies a sobering warning from archaeologists: the ground beneath her estate may contain human remains and other relics of the medieval past.
Welch looks to blend four homes into one
Welch’s £1.9 million restoration project aims to transform four adjoining dwellings – Beckington Abbey, The Grange, The Little Grange, and The Studio – into a single home.
The Grade II-listed buildings date back to the 12th century and are steeped in history and local lore. Her plan includes extensive internal and external changes:
- Reinstatement of historical internal openings
- Removal of modern partitions, floors, and staircases
- Introduction of a new main staircase and renewed bathrooms and kitchen
- Restoration of timber sash windows and stone mullioned windows
- Replacement of a modern glazed extension with a cloister and open pergola
- Reinstatement of the original roofline, replacing post-war additions
- Unification of electrical and plumbing systems from the four former dwellings
In her listed building application, Welch’s team emphasised a commitment to restoring original features, saying the intention is to “reunify the historic fabric” and to “remove later accretions that detract from the architectural integrity of the Abbey.”
The project also includes minor demolition works in the garden, removing dividing walls, sheds and concrete steps added in the 20th century.
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Skeletons beneath the floorboards? The archaeological concerns
But while the architectural vision may be romantic, local planners and heritage experts have warned of a more macabre possibility: disturbing human remains.
An archaeological report submitted to Somerset Council revealed that “there is clear potential for archaeological remains dating to the medieval period,” specifically warning of “the possibility of encountering human burials”.
The report states: “If human remains are encountered and have to be removed, they will be cleaned, recorded, and lifted in accordance with a Ministry of Justice licence. Exhumation and post-excavation treatment will be carried out in accordance with published standards. All associated deposits, such as pyre sites, mausolea, and mortuary enclosures, will also be fully investigated and excavated.”
The area lies within a conservation area with experts believing the Abbey may have been part of a monastic or ecclesiastical site centuries ago – making the likelihood of graves, bones, and possibly medieval religious artefacts being buried nearby a real possibility.
A haunted past and a historic future
Welch is no stranger to the mystical and eerie – her music often explores otherworldly themes – and her new home is no exception.
Locals have long whispered that Beckington Abbey is haunted, with stories of a “lady in grey” believed to have roamed the halls since the 18th century.
One long-time resident of the village said: “There’s always been something about that place… When I was a child, my grandmother warned me never to walk past it alone at night.”
Despite the ghost stories and grim archaeological warnings, Welch remains committed to the project. She has agreed to donate any significant artefacts or remains found during construction to the Somerset Museums Service, ensuring that local history is preserved and respected.
“This property has such an incredible history,” Welch said in a statement, “and I want to make sure that whatever we find during the renovations is preserved and shared with the community”.
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