WORKMEN have unearthed the remains of a 17th-century chapel's founders, hidden away in a secret vault.

Christopher and Mary Boone set up Boone's Chapel, Lee High Road, Lee, in 1682 to provide education for poor children and care for the area's elderly.

Their remains were found in leather-bound coffins by workers excavating the chapel's foundations as part of a £500,000 restoration project.

Mr Boone's coffin had largely disintegrated, but contained a plaque dedicated to him following his death aged 71 in 1686.

Mrs Boone died in her 70s in 1721 and her coffin is still in good condition with its leather bindings being held in place by brass studs.

The Blackheath Historic Building Trust (BHBT) is behind the restoration campaign.

Its chairman Sir Ian Mills says the discovery has meant an additional cost of £50,000 to the project.

He said: "The find came when workmen were drilling through bore holes to assess the structural underpinning.

"One of these bore holes collapsed when it was drilled, exposing a vault where the coffins were.

"It was rather dramatic. The workman involved was quite moved by it and made a wooden cross and laid flowers.

"But it has cost the restoration project an extra £50,000 as English Heritage instructed us to check for other dead bodies, which meant searching the entire 45sq ft site.

"We also had to inform the Home Office and local planners and environmental health in line with procedures when remains are found."

Because of this lengthy process, Sir Ian has only now gone public with discovery which happened on July 20.

The chapel, which features on English Heritage's London Buildings At Risk Register, was rescued by the BHBT in the mid 1990s following years of neglect and graffiti.

It is rectangular, built of red brick with Portland stone trimmings and occupies a prominent corner of the Merchant Taylors' Company almshouses site.

By late next year, the grade I Listed building will be fully refurbished and used as offices by architectural firm Research Design. It will be open to the public 30 days a year for exhibitions.

The Boones' bodies will remain in the vault and the trust plans to place a plaque at the scene when work finishes.