Historical Kings

There have been a number of archaeological excavations in and around the school grounds, many of which have shown evidence for extensive settlement over a considerable amount of time. The earliest phase of activity in the area is prehistoric, a possible Iron Age occupation was identified during archaeological work in 2000-2001. There's also a substantial amount of evidence for Roman activity in the area, including the remains of a Roman Villa adjascent to St. Andrew's Church, and there have been numerous finds dating from the mid-1st to 4th centuries, including 87 coins.

The school occupies the historical site of an Anglo Saxon Palace, and to the right of the school entrance, a series of square blocks mark the position of the actual post-holes of the timber framework of the last Palace. Adjacent to this are the ruins of the 13th century chapel of St. Columbanus. Information from old documents reveals that the site is mentioned in King Alfred's will of 901 A.D. and the Anglo Saxon Chronicle notes that the Witan (Anglo Saxon Council) met on the site in 942, 956 and 968 A.D. In Norman times, King Henry I and Henry II signed Charters here, and in 1209 King John spent £50 on "the King's houses" before giving the manor to the Bishop of Bath and Wells.

In January 2006, construction of the new Modern Languages block was halted when two inhumations were discovered during excavation work. Radiocarbon dating of the skeletons indicated that they came from the later Roman Period, the 3rd & 4th centuries AD. The first burial, orientated in a north-south position, was of an adult male, aged somewhere between 25 and 40 years of age. Nine iron nails were found around the skeleton suggesting burial within a coffin. The second burial, orientated in a northwest-southeast position, was of an adult female; however there were insufficient elements present to determine the age of the individual. The grave contained a small quantity of nails and Romano-British pottery sherds. For the orginal Cheddar Valley Gazette news items that reported the discovery of the remains click here and here.

Building work was halted whilst an archological survey of the site was carried out by Context One Archaeological Services. To view Context One's Archological Watching Brief (report) on their excavations click here (pdf format.)