A ‘Creative History' morning visit set in a Medieval and Victorian building.

A hands-on, interactive, fun-packed, teacher-lead, museum-based morning

Following the success of our Tudor role play King John's House & Tudor Cottage Trust Ltd and Creative History have teamed up again to create Vanity and Vagrants in Victorian Romsey.

The Victorian hands on experience brings the past alive. A fun morning of activities helps appreciate the difference between rich and poor children in the nineteenth century. At the same time the activities develop the children's awareness of how history is related to their own lives and local built environment, their historical skills and period knowledge.

Step back in time to Victorian Romsey, when Mr and Mrs Moody with their eight children lived at Church Street . Mrs Moody trained as a teacher in London and took her first position at the local Ridge School . Mr Moody was a cutler and inventor, he owned the shop here and you can see many of his original ideas in the recreated gun shop.

Follow in the footsteps of the teacher, shop keeper, gardener and others and help them with their tasks

Then accept your role and costume whether rich or poor and sample a meal in the workhouse!

Based in the recreated home and shop of the Moody family children will discover the challenges of writing with pen and ink; the complexities of shopping and money; the joys of Victorian toys and games and make their own Victorian souvenir to take home

In addition your visit will include a costumed role-play recreating the time when King John's house was a workhouse. The children will experience what happened to those who had nothing and how different these lives were from their own.

The project uses hot seating, re-enactment, resource handling and costumes to stimulate curiosity and development of historical skills. ‘Vanity and Vagrants' is closely linked to the National Curriculum, particularly topics on Victorians and Homes. However it also supports a wide range of other topics and areas such as Impact of Man on the Environment, Settlement, Buildings, Clothes, Containers, Materials, Structures. The site is also a fantastic stimulus for poetry, story writing and artwork.

Example Programme :

No. of children 27

No of accompanying adults 4

09:45 - 10:00 Arrive, book in, store bags.

10:00 - 10:15 Explain the activities and split

into three groups of nine.

10:15 - 11:15 Each group spends 20 minutes on

each activity; it could be schooling,

toys, sweet making, writing, food,

or clothes depending on your

previously stated preferences.

11:15 - 11:35 Come together. Assign costumes.

Costume-up ready for the Workhouse

11:40 - 12:10 Re-enact in the Workhouse

12:10 - 12:20 De-costume

12:20 - 12:30 Questions and review

Lunch, Romsey, or home!

Booking information

When: Usually every Wednesday during term time but we may be able to offer another day if this is not suitable.

Cost: £4.00 per schoolchild - accompanying adults free.

(This is based on a minimum class size of 27. Smaller groups may have to combine with another school or pay a higher fee.)

Participants: KS1 or KS2 focusing on topics related to Victorians, Homes, Costume, Food or Materials.

Sessions: Start at 10:00 and last 2 - 2½ hours.

Facilities:

A Medieval - Victorian buildings plus gardens.

•  Costumed qualified teacher to lead the visit.

•  Victorian-styled costumes for each child.

•  Museum shop.

•  Toilets on site.

•  Sheltered area for eating lunches.

•  Storage area for bags and coats.

We need :

      •  Name of school & phone number.

      •  Contact person / lead teacher.

      •  Number of children & accompanying adults.

      •  Any allergies (Children usually try bread during the feast and explore the garden).

      •  The topic the visit is being linked to. (This impacts on the activities used for your visit.)

      •  Preferred date(s).

      •  If you are staying on site for lunch.