Schoolboy finds English Civil War cannonball at manor house

The pupil found an iron cannonball believed to date back to the English Civil War during a school trip to Ufton Court, a Tudor manor house in Berkshire with strong links to the English Civil War.

The student, from Westfields Junior School, made the discovery while searching for a lost football in hedges recently cleared by volunteers during an outdoor learning session.

He has since said the find has inspired him to pursue archaeology as a career.

Kayaan Gajjarr, a pupil at Westfields Junior School, said: “I was looking for my football when I found it.

“I had thought about being an archaeologist before, but now I really want to be one.”

Ufton Court is home to the Ufton Court Educational Trust, which delivers immersive, hands-on outdoor education to around 20,000 children each year.

The charity emphasises real-world learning through direct experience.

Sarah Lindsell, chief executive of the Ufton Court Educational Trust, said: “We spend a lot of time worrying about children growing up on screens.

“Then a child finds a cannonball on a school trip and wants to be an archaeologist.

“That is what happens when learning is outdoors.”

The grounds of Ufton Court are known for their historical significance, particularly during the English Civil War, when nearby areas saw military skirmishes.

The cannonball is now undergoing further analysis to confirm its age and historical context, but its discovery is already being hailed as a tangible reminder of the value of outdoor learning.

Jo Redman, headteacher at Westfields Junior School, said: “We know learning beyond the classroom builds curiosity and confidence.

“Experiences at Ufton Court allow children to connect with the real-world contexts.

“This discovery perfectly captures the awe and wonder that such experiences can inspire, turning history into something truly memorable.”

The object, believed to be a Civil War-era cannonball, will now undergo further analysis (Image: Ufton Court)

During the Civil War, Ufton Court was owned by Edmund Perkins, a member of a prominent Catholic family.

The Perkins family had held the estate since 1581.

Already under financial strain due to fines imposed for their Catholic faith, the family remained loyal to the King during the conflict.

According to an 1892 account by former Ufton Court tenant Mary Sharp, the area surrounding Ufton Court saw active military engagement.

A notable skirmish took place just three-quarters of a mile from the manor.

Parliamentarian forces under Lord Wessex clashed with the Royalist cavalry led by Prince Rupert.

The Parliamentarians repelled the Royalist troops before moving on to the First Battle of Newbury in September 1643.

Following the encounter, the Perkins family, along with other Royalist sympathisers in the area, were heavily taxed by Parliament for their allegiance to the Crown.