Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Poet's remains rediscovered in a wine cellar

Descendant of the 19th century poet said his surroundings might be considered ‘appropriate’ but family supports plans for improvement

Coleridge’s coffin and those of other family members were discovered in the crypt of a church in Highgate (Hulton Archive/Getty)

The remains of 19th century poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge have been found in a former wine cellar in north London.

Coleridge’s lead coffin, along with those of his wife Sara, his daughter, his son-in-law and his grandson, were discovered in the crypt of St Michael’s church in Highgate – which was built on the site of a demolished mansion.

Literary pilgrims have travelled to the church for years to pay their respects at a memorial plaque to Coleridge in the church, unaware that his remains were concealed just below the memorial slab inscribed with an epitaph he wrote himself.

Drew Clode, a member of the St Michael’s stewardship committee, said: “That was a bit of a clue really. Poor Coleridge was moved from a tip to a tip – they put the coffins in a convenient space which was dry and secure, and quite suitable, bricked them up and forgot about them, and never did anything about the rest of the space.”

The coffins are barely visible through a ventilation block in the wall, which was built in the 1960s, and were discovered during an excavation which uncovered the wine vault entrance.

Coleridge suffered from depression, poor health and drug and alcohol addiction in his life. His final 18 years were spend lodging across the green from the church with a doctor he hoped could cure him. He died aged 61 in July 1834.

His great-great-great-grandson, Newham-based police officer Richard Coleridge, said: “It has been said that you could see it as appropriate [that his remains were left in a wine cellar] but it is not in a very fitting state for him, and the family would support the plans to improve it.”