No-one was hurt in the dramatic incident but it is believed some machinery was seriously damaged.
Workmen immediately halted construction and the university called in leading historian Prof Trent O’Learyul whose team of specialist archaeologists uncovered a network of catacombs leading back towards the city’s Cathedral.
Early work suggests that the catacombs housed a huge underground brewery used by the ancient order of Camraciscan monks who traded their potent brews across the region.
The shock discovery means the site has been covered by a special order under Section 12 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and it is understood the area must now be fully excavated.
No official comment has yet been made on the discovery but the PT understands that planners believe the work could delay the university project by years and to minimise the delay much of the new build could now be accommodated underground in the area which will be cleared by the catacombs excavation.
It is believed the Students Union area could be sited inside the medieval brewery store.
It emerged today (April 1) that passages leading back to the cathedral have been discovered and appear to have remained largely intact.
At a press conference today Prof O’Learyrul said: “It appears that long held rumours of tunnels under the cathedral are true. Parchments found show that the powerful ale brewed by the Camraciscans under their charismatic French leader Abbot Laforpilo became widely acclaimed and the tunnels and underground brewery allowed the monks to transport large quantities on barges using the nearby River Nene.
“This is a tremendously exciting discovery and we look forward to digging deeper to find out much more about this extraordinary site and the mythical ale that this secretive order produced.
“We believe that many of the descendants of the Camraciscans still live in the Peterborough area to this day, perhaps explaining the affinity with the Embankment area and strong ale.”
UPDATE: As noon has passed on 01/04/21 we have to officially declare this an April Fool!
Thanks for all the comments. Did you get the clues in the names?
Prof Trent O’Learyul = Prof Really not true
Abbot Laforpilo = Abbot April Fool
It seems Camraciscans might well become a new noun for Peterborough beer lovers and top marks to Peterborough Civic Society who came up with a fantastic response on Twitter.
Early work suggests that the catacombs housed a huge underground brewery used by the ancient order of Camraciscan monks who traded their potent brews across the region.
5.
Tunnels linking the cathedral cloisters with catacombs on the Embankment could extend to other areas of the city according to Prof Trent O'Learyul. Photo: Midlands