Hampshire Telegraph - Saturday 08 August 1903 "DISCOVERY AT ST. THOMAS'S." The August issue of the “Portsmouth Parish Magazine" tells of an interesting discovery which has been made in the south transept of St. Thomas's Church. Behind the high panelling of the pews, along the west wall, there was found the little low doorway into the spiral staircase which was known to be in the centre of the turret in that corner of the church. This staircase was the way up into the passage running round the clerestory, originally round the whole church, but now remaining round the chancel and south transept only. People had often enough gone down part of this staircase getting into it from the window at the back or the south transept gallery; but even Mr. W. H. Saunders did not know exactly where the doorway at the bottom was. For seven or eight feet from the floor level the staircase was fall of rubbish-pigeons' nests and refuse, not human bones as some had expected. The rubbish has been cleared out, and now the steps will be restored and oak door fitted to the old doorway."
Hampshire Telegraph - Saturday 08 August 1903
"DISCOVERY AT ST. THOMAS'S."
The August issue of the “Portsmouth Parish Magazine" tells of an interesting discovery which has been made in the south transept of St. Thomas's Church. Behind the high panelling of the pews, along the west wall, there was found the little low doorway into the spiral staircase which was known to be in the centre of the turret in that corner of the church. This staircase was the way up into the passage running round the clerestory, originally round the whole church, but now remaining round the chancel and south transept only. People had often enough gone down part of this staircase getting into it from the window at the back or the south transept gallery; but even Mr. W. H. Saunders did not know exactly where the doorway at the bottom was. For seven or eight feet from the floor level the staircase was fall of rubbish-pigeons' nests and refuse, not human bones as some had expected. The rubbish has been cleared out, and now the steps will be restored and oak door fitted to the old doorway."