The Mint/Crossbones

Prints of these images are for sale! The area around Borough Market used to be known as The Mint and was a notorious slum, heaving with crime and vice. The Bishop of Winchester had control of a small area in which prostitution was legal (and presumably grew fat on the taxation of the women's takings). The women who worked there were known as the Winchester Geese. When they died they were denied a Christian burial and thrown into a pauper's grave, which was uncovered during the 90's as excavation was underway for the Jubilee line extension. Pagans, the bereaved, women's rights activists, and sex workers have taken on the task of remembering those who are buried there and a veritable shrine has grown up. The self-styled caretakers want a permanent monument built but are being steadily blocked. The second image down shows the site of the mass grave. These are some images I took earlier in the year (around St. George's day, hence the red ribbon and flags). More info can be found here.