[3][4] The name may have been first used by John Collinson in his History and Antiquities of the County of Somerset in 1791, however when investigated by Richard Warner in 1826 he could not identify where the name had originated.

[6] Clearer documentary evidence shows that it was used as a "commercial school for young gentlemen" in the second half of the 18th century.

[6][7] The wooden stairs leading to the first floor replaced an earlier stone staircase, the remains of which can be seen protruding from the walls.

[6] The building now houses Glastonbury Museum at the Tribunal containing artefacts from the town and from the Iron Age Glastonbury Lake Village, a "crannog" or man made island, which were preserved in almost perfect condition in the peat after the village was abandoned.

[9] The village was built in about 300 BC and occupied into the early Roman period (around 100AD) when it was abandoned, possibly due to a rise in the water level.

[10] It was built on a morass on an artificial foundation of timber filled with brushwood, bracken, rubble and clay.

The upper half was probably added in the 1st century from one sheet of metal, which may have been previously used for another purpose, and the two halves riveted together.

[16][17] Some original storage jars are included in the displays which were re assembled by Arthur Bulleid, who discovered the site in 1892.

[18][19] In the Tudor kitchen at the rear of the building is an Iron Age log canoe which was discovered near the lake village.