Time travelling students explore Industrial Revolution

Head of history & politics MRS FELL reports on how Year 8 students travelled back in time to experience how the Industrial Revolution transformed everyday life in Britain

FRIDAY dawned grey and chilly, and as the students gathered at the front of school ready to board the coaches, warm coats, hats and gloves were all around. Arriving at Beamish Museum, each form set off with their teachers on a time travel mission to experience just how the Industrial Revolution transformed life for the people of Britain.

The fantastic Beamish staff and volunteers shared their knowledge and insights with the students about topics as varied as the development of steam locomotives, the use of cocaine in Victorian dentistry, and the origins of the traditions of free masonry. Students in 2D were working in groups to find evidence of change, in transportation, interior design, fashion, or architecture, while in 2C they were on the lookout for the best invention they could find, ready to present a Dragons’ Den-style pitch to Mr Spiers about why their choice was the most innovative invention of the Industrial Revolution.

Students also relished the opportunity to enjoy a Edwardian fair complete with helter-skelter and banana boats, as well as sample the delights of the sweet shop and bakery. Some even sampled the excellent fish and chips from the 1950s town. They managed to avoid being told off by the bobby on the beat, on the lookout for bad behaviour - in fact, teachers were approached by members of the public to congratulate them on how well-behaved and polite the students were - a credit to their school.

Despite having been warned, some of the students were shocked by how much walking they had to do, exploring the ever-expanding site of the museum, and they were grateful that we were able to catch a bus back to the museum entrance to get back to modern life, and to enjoy the weekend!