Benjamin Franklin’s House Had a Secret Room Full of Bodies

Many factors make Benjamin Franklin famous. He was an innovator that made bifocals and lightning rides possible. He signed the Declaration of Independence and was a statesman. He was a man who also resided in a house filled with dead people. The final one is somewhat less well-known.

As an ambassador, Franklin resided in the same London home for almost 20 years. It was a four-story townhouse, and since it was a structure with clear historical value, modern society aspired to conserve it and make it into a museum. This required some remodeling, and in 1998, workmen on the project came across a windowless room in the basement where a pit had been dug. And a thigh bone was protruding from it.

The site was investigated by authorities, who discovered an astounding 1,200 human bones. There were reportedly between 10 and 15 separate bodies, several of which were young children. They appear to have originated around the same time as Franklin, but Franklin wasn't up to any mischief. He had a friend named William Hewson who, at the time, was working covertly as an anatomist. As part of Hewson's medical studies, many of the bones had been sawn or drilled.

There was a reason Hewson carried out his anatomical studies in secret since it was not fully lawful to do so at the time. The residence provided a secure location for him to conduct his research because Franklin was both a friend and a scientist.

TripAdvisor Rating; 4.0/5.0

Website: https://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/