tried & tested

I've wanted to go to 'Victorians Live' at the British Schools Museum for a while now and finally got my chance a few weeks ago.

The museum is an absolute gem of an attraction right here in Hitchin and if you haven't yet been, then you're really missing out.

Having opened over 200 years ago as the first "Monitorial School" in Hertfordshire, the buildings stand proud on Queen Street. The furnished classrooms are open to the public and equipped to show the history of elementary education from pre-Victorian times to the late 1960s. There's also the Headmaster's house, set up just as it would have been when he lived there with his family. It really is a place where young and old can enjoy going back to school, to a place where "Learning Comes to Life".

At 'Victorians Live', the volunteers are dressed in Victorian attire, with many taking on characters, like the Head Mistress, Maid and Cook to show the children activities that they would have done around the school and Head Master's house.

 

When we arrived, the children were invited to wear Victorian clothes to really get in to the spirit of the event- they absolutely loved that! There were a number of activities set up in the main courtyard, including carpet beating, brass cleaning, potato peeling and shoe shining, with a volunteer playing their part to encourage the children to get involved, try things and ask questions.

There were also traditional hobby horses to play with, which the boys loved racing around on. One of the things I love most about the museum is that there is so much for the children to do hands-on: the café even has a room next door with a whole unit filled with old toys that children are invited to play with, so it's well worth stopping for a bite to eat while the children play.

The children were also given a treasure hunt to try to find certain items around the courtyard and house, which they loved- even more so when they were given a prize at the end for finding them all!

We were then invited on a tour of the Head Master's house with one of the volunteers, who really brought it to life for the boys- a particular highlight for them being the discovery that the toilet was outside (5 year olds love anything toilet-related, after all!). The house is filled with Victorian items and you can really imagine what it was like for the Headmaster and his family to live there.

Again, the children were invited to touch many of the items, which really made the experience special for them. It's worth noting that not everything is there to be touched, but it's a great balance, and the volunteers encourage the children to explore.

Heading up to the main school classrooms, the boys enjoyed sitting at the bench desks and practicing writing in the sand. Suddenly, a teacher arrived and it was time to experience a Victorian lesson!

 

I've never seen children jump to attention and embrace the experience like they did here- backs were straight, mouths were shut and they filed out to the classroom in silence. Once everyone had taken their seats in the (world's last) Monitorial classroom, the teacher taught the children how they should greet her and I've never seen my 5 year old take something more seriously, bowing and saying "Good morning Ma'am" as instructed- need to try that one at home! 

The Museum runs their 'Victorians Live' event throughout the year, with the next event being on Saturday August 20th- you can get your tickets here- it really does help support the museum if you can book in advance, but you can turn up on the day if there's space.

Sessions run at 10am and 1pm.

Tickets are £8 per person (children under 5 are free)

Victorian lessons are at 11am and 2pm.

There are also weekly themed craft sessions running at the museum over the summer holidays, which are well worth checking out. They're running Tuesday - Thursday: you can find details here.

During the holidays and term time, the museum is open as normal Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (when there aren't events running) and is well worth a visit, plus it really relies on the support of visitors, so please do ensure you add this local gem to your summer holiday and weekend plans.

You can find out more information about all events and planning your visit on the British Schools Museum website.   

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