The girls of Combe Bank School, Sundridge will be enjoying a 'Time Team/Indiana Jones Experience' on Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd June. The whole school will be reverting back to the war years in a groundbreaking, quite literally, two-day project, aptly named "Dig it".
The event is the brainchild of inspirational History teacher Peter Hutchins, who is always looking for new ways to bring his subject to life. He felt that, as the school was situated on such an historic site, the girls should be involved in unearthing some of the history and, quite literally, digging it out.
Peter said: "I am really passionate about making history come alive, to help create a long-lasting interest in the subject. What better way to bring it alive than in the form of an archaeological dig? The whole school has been hugely enthusiastic and active in the planning of the event and there is a real sense of excitement building around the school. We are very fortunate to have the school located on such a historically interesting site, and I believe the knowledge gained across the curriculum will remain with the girls far longer than if they were just reading about it."
Based in and around the historic Combe Bank House and grounds, the two-day extravaganza has taken on a life of its own and is now involving all the pupils and staff from both the Senior and Prep Schools and is now a very cross curriculum event. The field opposite the main house, which was used as a landing strip and, later, a dumping ground for decommissioned World War II aircraft, is the main site for the dig. An area has been identified in which a trench is to be dug, an initial reconnoitre of the area has already unearthed pieces of a Spitfire and very large German aircraft bullets. Metal detectors will be employed and it is hoped for lots of interesting finds, which will be cleaned and carefully catalogued.
The girls are also excavating around the old swimming pool and the changing rooms. The summer growth will mean the pool's structure is less well defined and will add to the 'Indiana Jones' like experience. In addition the girls will be trying to identify and excavate the site of a four roomed thatched cottage which was built in the grounds as a playhouse for the daughters of one of the previous owners of the house and grounds.
Weather permitting; things really start to come alive with three World War 11 Piper Cubs from Biggin Hill due to land on the old airstrip, active for the first time since 1978, on the Thursday and a fly-past from a Heritage Spitfire on the Friday. Other planned activities include Land Girls pulling vegetables and delivering on tractors to help with the ration cooking workshop; building an Anderson shelter and radio transmitter which, it is hoped, will transmit to the incoming planes; producing a newspaper as it would have been produced at the time; and the PE department organising an 'old-style' sports day where some of the activities recorded around 1930 will be restaged.
The girls will also investigate the story of a German airman who parachuted into Combe Bank and hid in the caves in the grounds. A touch of realism will be added to the investigation by a member of the teaching staff, who will recreate the event by hiding out in the caves overnight.
All the activities will recreate a real feeling of the 1920's and 1930's as well as the Blitz years for the 21st-century pupils.
Added to these events, much, much more is going on, with each department adding something to what looks set to be an unforgettable experience for all taking part. Headmistress Jane Abbotts, said: "This is a truly memorable and exciting event for Combe Bank School, and it will extend our understanding of the history of the site. The girls are creating their own record of the experience using film and music. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them choose to develop their interest in archaeology further following these two days."
