Old Scarlett, whose real name was Robert Scarlett, was born around 1496 and served as sexton and gravedigger at Peterborough Cathedral for decades. Living to the remarkable age of 98, he is said to have buried two queens – Katherine of Aragon in 1536 and Mary, Queen of Scots in 1587 – along with thousands of other townsfolk during his long service. His duties would have placed him at the heart of many key events in the Cathedral’s history, from the dissolution of the abbey to the turbulence of the Tudor court.
Scarlett’s portrait still hangs above the Cathedral’s west door, painted after his death in 1594. It shows him as a robust, bearded figure with spade and pickaxe in hand, accompanied by a rhyming verse honouring his extraordinary age and dedication. Over the centuries, Old Scarlett has become part of Peterborough’s folklore – remembered not just for his longevity, but as a humble witness to some of the most momentous moments in the city’s past.
