by John Prince
Schoolchildren have been learning about what life was like in Victorian times during an educational visit to Hornsea Museum.
Before things got under way, students from Mersey Primary in east Hull dressed up as 19th-century children in bonnets, flat caps, aprons and period dress.
As well as being taught about Victorian-style manners, they were treated to a writing lesson in a strict classroom and got the chance to have a go on a mangle and a dolly tub in the washhouse. They also saw what old-fashioned cooking was like in a farmhouse kitchen without the help of any modern-day appliances.
Volunteers from the museum’s School Team got into character as Miss Grimm, the fierce schoolmistress, Mr Scrubbit, the laundry worker, and Mrs Burn, the cook. They kept the children entertained while showing them what life was like 150 years ago compared with today.
The visit by the Hull pupils was the last one before children broke up for the summer holidays. Around a dozen schools have visited the museum this year for the Victorian experience.
Stella Connor, AKA Miss Grimm, who is a former teacher herself and a School Team volunteer, said: “They will hopefully have had a really good experience of being a child in Victorian times and be able to take a lot of things away when they go back to school.
“For young children especially, it’s quite difficult to appreciate that things were different in the olden days. In some cases, their parents or grandparents will have told them things about going to school in the past, things like using slates or even getting the cane.
“Even sitting facing the teacher and not talking is very different for them.
“There will be plenty for them to talk about and write about. It’s always a good idea to give an experience before children are asked to write about anything. We’ve had great feedback from schools, and it’s a very good day for them.
“Thinking about similarities and differences is a big thing. It is a history lesson in practice.”
Assistant principal Louise Milne from Mersey Primary said: “We’ve been doing history for the last term about Victorians.
“It’s all been theory-based so far, with the odd artefact and visual prompts. But to actually live it and do it in the role of a Victorian is a completely different experience.
“They’re often surprised by the job roles that don’t even exist now, like maids and things. It’s like seeing a different world in real life.”