Workshops designed to offer schools a taster experience of domestic and working rural life in the Victorian period are on offer to schools on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays through the winter. The activities centre on the exhibits at the Museum, including a furnished cottage, the School, agricultural and industrial exhibits.

There will be four workshops organised on a round robin basis which will cover life in an agricultural labourer's cottage, Victorian food and recipes, daily domestic tasks, agricultural activities which may have a seasonal variation and role playing a lesson in the school. We will consider the roles and occupations of men, women and children in the countryside and how that might differ from urban life. Written and visual sources will be used where relevant to illustrate different aspects of Victorian life.

Groups are encouraged to wear period clothing to enter into the spirit of the day, but please remember that warm clothing will be needed.

This workshop is available during the months of November to February on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
 

Programme

Food and Cooking

Food and Cooking.  Lessons will start with everyone around the fire in Walderton Cottage.  Children will consider the contents of a grocer's basket and where in the world it was grown and will help with a simple Victorian recipe for Drop Scones, which will be cooked on the griddle over an open fire.   Recipe for Drop Scones  Museum Risk Assessment

Household Tasks

Household tasks will be undertaken in Whittaker's Cottage, a typical farm labourer's cottage of the Victorian period. The children will explore the house and undertake a varied range of household activities which Victorian children would have been expected to help with - collecting water from the pump, laundry, pegging out the washing, making the beds and polishing brass and boots. Museum Risk Assessment

Victorian Farming

The tour, covering farming life in the late Victorian period, will start from the Market Hall taking in the Shepherds Hut and Lambing Fold, working shire horses, Littlehampton Granary and the Charlwood Wagon Shed. Museum Risk Assessment

School Role Play

This will take place in the School from West Wittering.  The lesson will start with drill, followed by one of the three 'R's'.  Younger children will use slate and chalk, older children will use pen and ink.  Museum Risk Assessment

Timetable

Notes

Activities - please help us to maximise the time available for each session by moving your children promptly between the activities to the designated area.

Groups of around 15 pupils will follow the Group A programme.
Groups of around 30 pupils will follow the Groups A and B programme.
Groups of around 50-60 pupils will follow the Group A, B, C and D programme.

Please give a copy of this page to each group leader, and make them aware of the need for observing the safety issues outlined on the Information for Group Leaders.
 

Bookings