What are they and what do they involve?
A historic building or monument is a building or construction of some sort which has been of importance for a long time; the specifics can vary greatly, from being a residence of a significant historical figure to places such as windmills that are no longer in use. They often involve guided tours or exhibitions of interesting objects, and sometimes even historic re-enactments!
What are the benefits?
Visiting genuine historical buildings where people have lived and worked makes for a great accompaniment to classroom learning – forming physical links with the past and being able to use their imagination will be an excellent way of engaging students in learning.
What students is it suitable for?
There is a huge variety of historical buildings you can visit with your students, which means you can find a venue suitable for groups of all ages and interests!
Costs?
Admission prices will vary from being completely free up to over £10 per person depending on the venue; the larger the establishment and the more activities they have to offer, the more expensive access will be!
Safety Implications?
Any possible safety concerns will depend on the venue, and the variety of establishments mean that they will differ greatly! Consult with your destination of choice if you have any concerns.
Lying just a few miles from the centre of Glasgow, this unique villa has been described as Alexander 'Greek' Thomson's finest domestic design. It was built in 1857-8 for James Couper, a local businessman.
Many rooms are richly ornamented in wood, plaster and marble. School groups are welcome. Please contact the Education Officer at Pollok House for details.
The Nordy Bank hill fort is located on a defensible spur of the Clee Hills at 343 metres above sea level overlooking Corve Dale and Wenlock Edge. The defensive ditch earthworks are in good condition although past quarrying has encroached near the site.
Designed by Scottish architect William Adam in 1732, Haddo House near Aberdeen is a magnificent example of an historic Scottish stately home.
School visits are available by prior arrangement and can be tailored to suit your requirements.
Kirriemuir Camera Obscura - one of only three remaining in Scotland - is housed in a purpose-designed turret room within the cricket pavilion on Kirriemuir Hill.
Both the camera obscura and the cricket pavilion were donated in 1930 by the author J M Barrie (1868-1937), a native of Kirriemuir.
Set within the magnificent grounds of Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park and inspired by the designs of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, House for an Art Lover combines art gallery and exhibition space, events venue, café, multipurpose artists studios and magnificent visitor attraction into one unique and inspiring venue.
Rainham Hall is a charming and remarkably fine example of a Queen Anne house, built in 1729 by an enterprising merchant and ship’s captain, John Harle.
The finest Tudor town house of its period in Britain, with furnished rooms and garden. Education room available for use. Costume-led faciliated visits available based on Numeracy, History the Tudors and Science, Technology, Mathematics. Self-led Tudor activity pack. Tudor Treasure Chest handling collection.
A delightful small 15th century building, with fascinating local architecture and a museum exploring Easton's industrial past.
The house contains a collection of local bygones and memorabilia associated with the local Collyweston slate mining industry, which hasn't been in operation since the 1950s.
The house currently at Plas Penmynydd, the home of the Tudors on Anglesey, was built in 1576, after the Tudor dynasty had come to prominence through choosing to be first loyal to Edward I during his conquest of Wales and the to rebel Owen Glendower.
Standing proudly atop a prominent hill, the Kymin and its nine acres of pleasure grounds, overlooks Monmouth and the beautiful Wye Valley.
Once part of the enormous Monmouthshire estate of the Dukes of Beaufort, the Kymin’s fortunes have fluctuated over the last two centuries. Originally a popular picnic site in the late 18th century, building on the Round House commenced in 1794.
Discover Shute Barton, a medieval house with royal connections. A building of battlements and towers set in the rolling east Devon countryside, this historic house is the perfect place to stay for an unforgettable holiday and is available to hire all year round.
We are the world’s leading charity in promoting the works, life and times of William Shakespeare.
A charming 17th-century half-timbered dovecote at Wichenford Court. The building, although small, is very striking.
Scotland's largest & oldest keep. There's a dungeon alongside artwork by Raeburn & Van Dyck. School visits are available by arrangement, and focus on Mary, Queen of Scots and the 1st Earl of Mar. There is an education/teachers and restricted access pack available. The approximate length of a school visit is 2 hours.
Guided Tours, Baking and craft activities for pre booked groups available throughout the year. Picnic area and plenty of space to just play. Please note limited opening times.
Two Bronze Age communal burial cairns of Scillonian type, with fine views. The upper cairn is the best preserved on the islands.
The chambered tombs or entrance graves at Innisidgen are two fine examples of the Bronze Age (around 2500–750 BC) ceremonial monuments built on hilltops and coastal plateaux on the Isles of Scilly.
Two richly carved pieces of a 9th century 'Celtic' cross, with an inscription commemorating Dumgarth, British King of Dumnonia, who drowned in about AD 875.
These two fragments, one of which is known as King Doniert’s Stone, are the only surviving examples of 9th century stone crosses in Cornwall.
A small early Bronze Age stone circle traditionally believed to depict nine ladies turned to stone as a penalty for dancing on Sunday. It is part of a complex of prehistoric circles and standing stones on Stanton Moor.
This well-preserved and impressive Neolithic 'dolmen' burial chamber stands 2.7 metres (8.9 ft) high. There are five standing stones, surmounted by a huge capstone.
Trethevy Quoit is a particularly well-preserved example of a portal dolmen, a type of monument once common in Cornwall and dating to the early or middle part of the Neolithic period, around 3500–2500 BC.
Now in a wooded glade, this small prehistoric circle of nine standing stones was constructed around 4,000 years ago. Winterbourne Poor Lot Barrows are nearby.
Lying in a wooded glade just yards from the busy A35, this little stone circle resembles a huddle of ancient conspirators, lurking in the trees.
The remains of four 13th century stone farmsteads, on land originally farmed in the Bronze Age.
This isolated Dartmoor hamlet was probably abandoned in the early 15th century.
The fine remains of this abandoned and isolated settlement lie on the eastern edge of Dartmoor, between the granite landmarks of Hound Tor and Greator Rocks.
Set like a lakeside temple in a landscaped park, The Grange at Northington is the foremost example of the Greek Revival style in England. Created between 1804 and 1809 when William Wilkins encased an earlier house in Classical facades, most strikingly the temple front supported on eight gigantic columns.
Among the best preserved ancient villages in the south west, occupied from the Iron Age until late Roman times. It includes the foundations of stone houses, and an intriguing 'fogou' underground passage.
Archaeology
In a spectacular cliff-edge position, this unique Bronze Age tomb had a long and complex history as a sacred site.
The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
A 15-year-old boy fell 60ft over the edge of a cliff whilst on a geography school trip, miraculously only suffering minor injuries.