SECRETS of Saxon England could soon be revealed at Winchester Cathedral.

Cathedral bosses said experts will shortly examine its six mortuary chests, thought to contain the bones of Anglo-Saxon kings such as Canute.

As reported, the cathedral has been granted £10.5m by the Heritage Lottery Fund to repair the fabric of the building and launch three new exhibitions, one of which involves the chests.

But receiver general Annabelle Boyes said this funding only applies to the conservation of the chests rather than research.

She declined to say if the chests had already been opened and who would be conducting the research.

Analysis of the actual chests has already been carried out by “world class experts”, she added.

Ms Boyes said: “We’ve had 28 consultants looking at all elements of the exhibition and about six or seven experts looking at the chests. They have been analysing the paint, the writing and the framework.

“These are a mix of scientists and researchers. We’ve been so fortunate with this as part of the development stage and it has really strengthened our application.”

The chests are currently housed in the cathedral’s Lady Chapel.