02/10/2026
Did you know there is a remarkable piece of history housed at The Wykeham Collegiate — a plaque made from a piece of the original foundation wood associated with Wi******er Cathedral in England.
To understand its significance, we travel back to Wi******er in the early 1900s.
Built on waterlogged ground, Wi******er Cathedral's foundations began to fail, with serious cracks appearing in the building. There were fears that this magnificent piece of English history could collapse.
Then came William Walker. A professional deep-sea diver, Walker worked beneath the Cathedral between 1906 and 1911, often around six metres underwater and in almost complete darkness. Working largely by touch, he placed thousands of bags of concrete beneath the foundations, helping to stabilise the Cathedral. William Walker helped save Wi******er Cathedral.
During this work, original timber from the ancient foundations was uncovered. A piece was made into a commemorative plaque and presented to Wykeham School.
Today, that plaque is in the care of The Wykeham Collegiate in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
And this is what makes it so special. A piece of Wi******er's history travelled thousands of kilometres across the ocean — from England to South Africa — and became part of the heritage of The Wykeham Collegiate.
It also carries a connection to William of Wykeham, Bishop of Wi******er and a great advocate for education, whose name and legacy live on through Wykeham institutions.
The plaque is more than an historical artefact. It is a tangible link between Wi******er and Pietermaritzburg; England and South Africa; the past and the present.
From Wi******er Cathedral in England, to Wykeham School, and now treasured by The Wykeham Collegiate in South Africa.
