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History
History
History tells stories about people, places and things to help explain to young people of any age why the world is as it is as they grow up and begin to question it.
Schools will choose different periods and settings and topics to cove during different Key Stages, but all of them are pretty well guaranteed to be rooted in actual places that can be visited, explored and enjoyed.
It has been a curious fact that for many years primary classes have studied the Roman, Anglo-Saxon and medieval periods, while secondary school syllabuses have been more engaged in post-medieval periods. For a while secondary courses involved a great deal of ‘topic work’. While this discipline still exists, the recent examination syllabuses have returned to an emphasis on historical periods and links.
But all periods and topics provide fantastic opportunities for school visits. We are so lucky that so many general and specialist museums and visitor centres exist in the UK. The problem is not a shortage of possibilities but how one sifts through the available opportunities to make choices.
The Historical Association website carries information about course, conferences, study tours, and the Association has published ‘The Historian’ magazine for many years. Handsam is also happy to help, please contact us on 03332 070737 or email [email protected].
Most venues will have teaching materials and activities geared to students’ different ages and aptitudes whether at primary or secondary level. All of them will set out to develop students’ ability to understand, analyse and evaluate key features and characteristics of historical periods and events studied.
Some venues will be easy to identify because they fit neatly with the period and topic being studied but others may offer new possibilities, not least to the teachers themselves. Teachers need and deserve their own stimulation.
Over the next four years there will be an upsurge in visits to the First World War battlefields. Because of this there will be an increase in companies offering visits and requirement for battlefield guides, especially in northern France and Belgium. There are bound to be discrepancies in guides’ knowledge and experience. Close research into the credentials of the company you are contracting with, and the company’s guarantees about guides, will ensure that your group will not be disappointed.
Main organisations:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Inclusion: NASEN
Thought of visiting?
Roman Vindolanda and Roman Army Museum at Hadrian’s Wall
Viriconium, Wroxeter, Shropshire
The Jorvik Viking Centre, York
Offa’s Dyke Trail and Chirk Castle
The National Trust for Scotland
Clan Donald Visitor Centre, Isle of Skye
Bosworth Battlefield Visitor Centre
Haus am Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin
Exeter Cathedral Education Centre
The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
The Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth
East Anglia Railway Museum, Colchester
The National Tramway Museum, Matlock
Venues for this Curriculum
Iconic Arts and Crafts home of William Morris - writer, artist, craftsman and socialist
The only house commissioned, created and lived in by William Morris, founder of the Arts & Crafts movement, Red House is a building of extraordinary architectural and social significance.
Designed by Philip Webb and completed in 1860, it was described by Edward Burne-Jones as 'the beautifullest place on earth'.
Near the public library in a gallery on the first floor of the Town Hall in Fishguard is to be found a little-known and remarkable tapestry depicting the last ever invasion of the United Kingdom.
A charming Georgian building, built as a workhouse in 1764, now filled with a rich variety of displays and a regular and varied exhibitions programme.
Education
To learn more about the programme or to discuss your requirements please contact Rebecca Parrant.
The Red Mount is the highest point of The Walks offering elevated view points of the landscape from the structure itself and from the mound which partially surrounds it.
The structure is unique and its importance is reflected in its status as a Scheduled Ancient monument/Grade 1 listed building.
Leicesershire's Medieval Manor House
Based in a Medieval Manor House dating back to 1280, the house has a fascinating history and was owned by one of the Gunpowder Plotters!
Discover a medieval castle, now a green oasis for wildlife but still at the centre of daily life
Although you might not think it today, the mount and surrounding lands are the remnant of an early medieval wooden motte and bailey castle built by Sweyn, Sheriff of Essex. With the castle long gone, the area is now an urban wildlife haven and green lung in the heart of Rayleigh town centre, offering sweeping views across the Crouch Valley.
Remains of a former Benedictine abbey
Once an island in the Fens, this charming former gatehouse is all that remains of the oldest English and once great Benedictine abbey at Ramsey.
An ornately carved exterior with a glorious oriel window, is all that survives of the gatehouse.
Childhood home of General James Wolfe, victor of the Battle of Quebec (1759)
Explore this fascinating house, the childhood home of General James Wolfe. Discover the dramatic battle that won America for the British and learn of Wolfe's tragic death, in our exhibition.
Spanning the Estuary of the River Forth in Scotland, the Forth Bridge represents the pinnacle of 19th century iron and steel bridge construction. A world wonder of its age, this Victorian engineering marvel that was made possible by new steel production processes, is arguably the world's greatest and most famous cantilever bridge
One of Britain's greatest industrial heritage sites, showing how a complete industrial community lived
Quarry Bank overflows with the atmosphere of the Industrial Revolution.
A 280 acre paradise of sea cliffs, coastal limestone downland, meadows, hedgerows and woods.
Durlston Country Park, National Nature Reserve and Castle is a mile from Swanage in Dorset. This countryside paradise has stupendous views, the Great Globe (a huge recreation of planet Earth), a variety of walks and fascinating geology - there's always something new to see and do.
Former monastic buildings, now converted into two houses
These former monastic buildings have been converted into two houses. The cottages were given to us by the famous Ferguson's Gang.
Please note:
Originally home to the Lindisfarne Gospels and the site of grisly Viking attacks, a visit to Lindisfarne Priory is a great day out in Northumberland. Sitting offshore on Holy Island and reached by a causeway at low tide, the peaceful atmosphere and beautiful views from the priory make a visit here well worth the effort.
Beautiful and intimate 18th-century landscape garden
One of only four Palladian bridges of this design in the world can be crossed at Prior Park, which was created in the 18th century by local entrepreneur Ralph Allen, with advice from 'Capability' Brown and the poet Alexander Pope.
Trace the history of drinking water, from the time of cave dwellers to present day, through a number of great displays and wonderful working engines. A number of Open Days in Steam throughout the year.
Based in a Victorian pumping station that served Hereford for 120 years, the museum tells the story of drinking water throughout the ages through a number of high quality displays.
Thetford Warren Lodge was probably built around 1400 by the Prior of Thetford; this defensible lodge protected warreners and hunting parties against armed poachers. Much later used by the local gamekeepers who harvested rabbits here.
This interesting lodge was probably built around 1400 by the prior of Our Lady’s Priory, Thetford.
Here at Derby Cathedral, we run educational visits for children of all ages, from nursery through to secondary school. With prior discussion, we can focus the visits on particular aspects of the curriculum, for example ‘Preparing for Christmas’ in Key Stage 1 and ‘The Tudors’ in Key Stage 2.
We offer the groups the chance to:
The stunning panoramic views from the top of Clifford’s Tower, out over the historic city of York, makes it one of the most popular attractions in Yorkshire.
Set on a tall mound in the heart of Old York, this imposing tower is almost all that remains of York Castle, which was originally built by William the Conqueror.
The most modern and spine-chilling of English Heritage’s properties, the York Cold War Bunker uncovers the secret history of Britain’s Cold War. Enter the blast-proof doors and investigate the more unusual side of York’s heritage.
In active service from the 1960s–1990s the bunker was designed as a nerve-centre to monitor fall-out in the event of a nuclear attack.
Take your students on a 70 minute journey through 2000 years of York’s murky history, as our full cast of entertaining theatrical actors bring to life gripping stories of the city's most infamous characters and events - from 71 AD when the Roman's created the City to the infamous highway man Dick Turpin in 1739.
Learn about the remarkable history of the Washington family as our experienced and friendly guides take you on a tour through the history of the Tudor and Georgian house and furnishings. Hear of the events, both fortunate and disastrous, that led George Washington’s ancestor to leave England for a new life abroad.
The striking and picturesque moated castle of Nunney was built in the 1370s by Sir John de la Mere, a local knight who was beginning to enjoy royal favour.
Trinity Apse...a spectacular gothic kirk situated in a perfect location just off the Royal Mile and a mere three minutes' walk from Waverley Station.
Historic Trinity Apse is part of what was once described as one of the finest ecclesiastical buildings constructed in Edinburgh. Tucked away down a small close, the Apse has beautiful vaulted ceilings.
Nene Valley Railway is a heritage railway that offers a family day out but is no mere manufactured visitor attraction as the preserved railway uses part of the original London and North Western line from Northamptonshire into the Cathederal city of Peterborough, encompassing the stations of Yarwell, Wansford, Ferry Meadows (Nene Park) and Orton Mere.
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