EXHIBITS from Europe’s most excavated monastic site are being exhibited for the first time in 500 years.

Norton Priory has opened a new museum following a £4.5 million major redevelopment.

The new displays exhibit more than four times the amount of artefacts unearthed at the medieval site.

The 12ft statue of St Christopher, one of the finest medieval sculptures dating back to 1391 will be back on show.

Fine works of art, sculptures, decorative grave stones and tiles are on show alongside personal items of the people who lived and worked at the priory such as shoes, combs and wooden bowls.

Their stories are revealed for the first time following extensive research by the universities of Lancaster, Liverpool and Leicester.

Facial reconstructions have brought fascinating tales to life including a crusader knight believed to have been murdered in the 13th century.

An interactive exhibit will demonstrate how forensic osteoarcheologists identified the murder.

The results of DNA analyses by Dr Turi King who led the Richard III investigation will also be revealed.

Paul Mathews, chairman of Norton Priory Museum Trust said: “The new displays and restoration works do the site and the nationally significant collections justice for the first time.

“Thanks to new, cutting edge research, 900 year old stories will be retold and brought to life in the state of the art, interactive galleries.”

The 12th century undercroft has also completely restored.

Victorian tiles have been conserved and re-laid alongside replicas to show how the decorative floor looked at the beginning of the 19th century.

All the features of the Grade I listed building - from the 12th century vaulting and arcades to the Georgian wine bins and Victorian porch and tiles have been preserved.

Steve Miller, trustee at the Heritage Lottery Fund, which provided a £3.9m grant, said: “This is a special moment even for a site with such an extensive and fascinating history.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, the new modern museum building now provides a fitting setting to tell the story of 900 years of social, political and religious change and the precious undercroft has been rescued and is now at the heart of the site.”

A major re-enactment event will be held on August 13 and 14 to demonstrate the priory’s history.