W&M discovers 18th-century Bray School foundation, cellar & artifacts

ARCHAEOLOGISTS DISCOVER NEAR-COMPLETE BRAY SCHOOL FOUNDATION

Archaeologists uncovered the near-complete 18th-century foundation of the Williamsburg Bray School beneath William & Mary’s Robert M. Gates Hall.
The Bray School was an early institution for educating enslaved and free Black children, operating on the site from 1760 to 1765.
Researchers also discovered a previously unknown cellar containing centuries of artifacts.
Discoveries include pottery, jewelry, slate pencil fragments, and other items from various time periods.
The findings provide new insights into the school, its students, and the site’s history.
Artifacts will be studied further and incorporated into future exhibits at Gates Hall and Colonial Williamsburg.
The discovery is seen as crucial for understanding the history of Black education and the early republic.

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Near-Complete 18th-Century Foundation of Williamsburg Bray School Discovered at William & Mary