Archaeologists have uncovered Tudor-era tunnels beneath New Hall School in Chelmsford, England, revealing a direct link to the former Palace of Beaulieu, once associated with Henry VIII.
The discovery came during repair work on a ha-ha, a landscaped ditch designed to keep livestock away without disrupting views across the estate. Alongside the tunnel entrance, workers found pottery, bones, and glass bottles from the same period.
New Hall School stands on the site of New Hall, a property Henry VII acquired in 1517 and later transformed into the grand Palace of Beaulieu. The residence was a favored royal setting in the 1520s before its role changed over time and much of it was later demolished.
The school, founded in 1799 and still operating as an independent Catholic boarding academy, now sits on a landscape layered with centuries of history. Staff members say the find offers students a rare chance to experience the past in a tangible way.
Researchers have so far explored only a small section of the tunnel network, which may have served as service passages and storage spaces for the royal palace. Further archaeological work is expected to deepen understanding of the site. This discovery may help reshape how historic estates are studied and experienced in the future.
