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| 11 Dec 2025 | |
| OBA News |
We are thrilled that the third book in The Bruton Trilogy by Roger Gallannaugh is now available to buy.
Roger is a retired architect, ex-governor of King's Bruton and an Old Brutonian, as well as being Patron of the 1519 Society.
Book 1 - The Bruton Abbey Project
Beneath the immaculate turf of Abbey Field lie the remains of two ancient buildings. The oldest are the foundations of one of Somerset’s richest Monasteries - Bruton Abbey. The high wall along Plox and St Mary’s Church are the only surviving evidence of its existence. The other building was the Berkeley Mansion of which nothing remains above ground. Over the last two decades of research and archaeological excavations, we now have a clearer picture of their extent and location. This illustrated booklet shows how the monastery came to be there, its demise in 1539 and then the construction of the great Berkeley mansion, which itself was dismantled in 1786.250 years later, these two buildings have been brought back to life through plans, photographs and drawings, thanks to the work of archaeologists and the teams of volunteers who helped to map and expose their foundations.
Book 2 - Foundation
The ‘Free School’ founded in 1519 was associated with the Abbey through its founders, The Fitzjames family of Redlynch. That Free School is now King’s School, its foundation and re-foundation deeds on parchment are preserved in the Somerset Record Office on behalf of the School.
This illustrated booklet explores the changes in religion, education and politics which influenced its foundation in 1519. Plans and drawings show the evolution of the School and its buildings over the last 500 years to illustrate a firm foundation for the School to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Book 3 - 900 Years
Three buildings on three hectares under three influences during three decades. This book follows on from two earlier publications, bringing together a picture of three inter-related buildings: The Monastery, The School and The Mansion. A process of evolution and continuation that Bruton was fortunate to have had compared with some communities where churches and monasteries were completely destroyed, and out of all this King's Bruton has risen.
