A Thousand Years of History The Gauntlet is situated on a typical medieval styled burgage plot. The evidence provided from an archaeological study prior to development shows occupation from the time of the Normans although most of the finds were from 12th and 13th century onwards. In the 15th Century, the west side was once a yard for the Tribunal kitchen and parts of the remaining internal frame-work are still evident today. There are integral doors leading from the Tribunal to the front shop store. The current double shop and neighbours HSBC Bank occupies the area previously used by a barbers shop and The old Bank House. A fire was believed to have destroyed the bank and the cottage styled barbers shop, which is shown in the 1825 Buckler drawing. It is thought the new regency styled shop was built sometime after 1830 during the reign of William IV. The attached building at the rear of the High Street shop is considered to be early Victorian and the rest of the building late Victorian. During the 19th Century the shop was owned for some years by Jonathan Payne Newman who was famous for being Glastonbury's Town Mayor on more occasions than any other. Frank Goodall the auctioneers and stationers occupied the shop between the late 19th century and the early 20th century. The premises held auctions for many of the Abbey treasures. The shop was also a library in the 19th century and in more recent times, the 1960s, was a Curry's branch. This was replaced with a Spar food shop in the 90s. Today, it is bracing itself for the biggest change in its entire history. It will serve the public as a new retailing centre, a new street and enter a new place in history. During the planning process, Archaeologists were commisioned to do a report on the proposed shopping thoroughfare site.