John Norwood opens the Caves as a show place. He gives them the fanciful name of ‘The Vortigern Cave’ and claims they date to 454AD.

Bryan House was put up for auction and Francis Forster, heir to a substantial estate in Northumberland, purchases it as his new family home.

A large building is constructed on our site. It is owned and occupied by Mrs Margaret Bryan who runs a Boarding School for Young Ladies.

In the early 1700s, chalk mining begins on the site. Chalk is an important mineral and is used in the production of quicklime and bricks.

A flourishing Iron Age community live on our site in a large community, based in a walled hill fort to protect them against violent attacks.