13 September 2023
Mr Roy Peachey, Coordinator of the Sophia Programme and Teacher of English
Few people realise there is an extensive network of tunnels under the school grounds, dating back to the time when stone was quarried for buildings such as the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey. Intrigued by this hidden history under our feet, in mid August a group of ten members of staff boldly went where no members of staff had gone before, exploring the mines under the expert supervision of the Wealden Cave and Mine Society.
The history under our doorstep proved to be even more fascinating than we had expected. We saw the place where the Natural History Museum stored some of its treasures during World War II, the place where mushrooms were grown in the dark after the war, and even the fossilised remains of a plesiosaurus.
A high point of the trip - if you can have a high point deep under ground - was the (optional) crawl, which several of us embarked on with great enthusiasm despite the tight conditions. As you can see from the photo, a great time was had by all.
