The Time Team has just three days to answer questions raised by a local farmer about the archaeological history on his Somerset doorstep, asking whether this once-impenetrable, marsh-encircled site was Alfred's hiding place. In this first programme sees Time Team establishing the position and layout of a medieval abbey - and possibly the church built by Alfred the Great.

Old foundations found in a garden may be one of the first houses to be built in the town. Is this so? and how did Much Wenlock become a big market town as it is today? The 'Time Team' reveal evidence of a mid-13th century house with stone built solar (lord's private room), aisled timber hall - which may have been the priory guest house - kitchens and a medieval cesspit. Through the identification of 13th-century pottery finds and tree-ring dating, they link the building with visits by Henry II.

In the Dark Ages, a powerful king decided to show how powerful he was and built a man made island in the middle of a lake and stuck a palace on top of it. Who was the king and who were the builders and what happened to them all? The Time Team help investigating this man made island, known as a crannog (an artficial defended island) that may date back to the Dark Ages. They discover evidence of domestic fires and furnaces - as well as a Dark Age ring made of shale.