What are they and what do they involve?
A historic building or monument is a building or construction of some sort which has been of importance for a long time; the specifics can vary greatly, from being a residence of a significant historical figure to places such as windmills that are no longer in use. They often involve guided tours or exhibitions of interesting objects, and sometimes even historic re-enactments!
What are the benefits?
Visiting genuine historical buildings where people have lived and worked makes for a great accompaniment to classroom learning – forming physical links with the past and being able to use their imagination will be an excellent way of engaging students in learning.
What students is it suitable for?
There is a huge variety of historical buildings you can visit with your students, which means you can find a venue suitable for groups of all ages and interests!
Costs?
Admission prices will vary from being completely free up to over £10 per person depending on the venue; the larger the establishment and the more activities they have to offer, the more expensive access will be!
Safety Implications?
Any possible safety concerns will depend on the venue, and the variety of establishments mean that they will differ greatly! Consult with your destination of choice if you have any concerns.
On top of Penshaw Hill sits the Earl of Durham's Monument.
Better known as the Penshaw Monument, this 70 foot high folly is a replica of the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens and can be seen for miles around. It is considered to be Wearside's most beloved landmark, even appearing on the badge of Sunderland Football Club.
Ranger’s House is an elegant Georgian villa in Greenwich Park built in 1723 to be the official residence of the 'Ranger of Greenwich Park'. From 1815 this post was held by Princess Sophia Matilda, niece of George III.
Kirkham House is a well-preserved late medieval house, built of local stone.
It lies near the centre of the town of Paignton, which 500 years ago was a small village clustered around its parish church, not far from the palace of the bishops of Exeter.
Welcome to England's Greatest Elizabethan house.
Welcome to Burghley, William Cecil’s ancestral home. This palatial Elizabethan prodigy house is still a much loved family home and we invite you to explore its historic collection of paintings, ceramics and works of art, many of which still stand where they were first recorded in 1688.
Nestled in a medieval deer-park, Knole is vast, complex and full of hidden treasures. Originally an Archbishop’s palace, the house passed through royal hands to the Sackville family – Knole’s inhabitants from 1603 to today.
A passion for tradition and impressing guests inspired one man to transform a run-down country house and desolate landscape.
Follow this amazing survival story of a mill that was almost demolished, then saved by the local villagers and restored to working order to carry on the tradition of milling on this site for over 1,000 years.
The remains of this Romano-Celtic temple, probably built during the 4th century AD, lie at the top of a hill on the South Dorset Downs, with fine views inland and out across Weymouth Bay.
In the centre of Chipping Campden, a lovely small town in the Cotswolds stands the beautiful Market Hall. Surrounded by ancient houses made from the local honey-coloured stone, it’s easy to imagine the market-place alive with the bustle of traders from centuries past.
This bizarre structure, in the shape of a pineapple, was built in 1761 as a folly to enjoy the fantastic views.
Extensive glasshouses and pineapple pits once grew a variety of exotic fruit and vegetables within these walls.
Ongoing research, survey and repair work continues on the walls and is revealing a great deal of information for future consideration.
Great Barn in Great Coxwell village is the sole surviving part of a thriving 13th-century grange that once provided vital income to Beaulieu Abbey.
Built from Cotswold rubble-stone walling, the barn is an impressive reminder of the skills of the Gothic carpenters and the wealth of the great monastic orders.
An outstanding display of English medieval carpentry, this mighty timber-framed barn is the largest cruck structure in Britain.
Built for Pershore Abbey in about 1325, it is over 42 metres (140 feet) long, with 18 cruck blades each made from a single oak tree.
There were once other farm buildings and houses, and the abbot himself is known to have sometimes resided here.
Nuffield Place reveals the surprisingly down-to-earth lives of Lord Nuffield, founder of the Morris Motor Company, and his wife. Their home and personal possessions are just as they left them, the decor and furnishings intact.
A Neolithic earthwork henge, one of many in this area, dating from about 2000 BC, but much later believed to be King Arthur's jousting arena. Mayburgh Henge is nearby.
'I've a hut in a wood near camp wherein I spend my spare evenings' - the words of the legendary Lawrence of Arabia, about Clouds Hill.
Two ornamental gateways, once part of Portsmouth's defences.
King James's Gate (of 1687) has been moved, but Landport Gate (1760), once the principal entrance to Portsmouth and possibly based on a design by Nicholas Hawksmoor, remains in its original position.
Rebuilt in 1743 after a fire, this merchant's house survives from Kingston-upon-Hull's international trading heyday.
The exterior of the House appears very plain but this simplicity is a typical feature of Palladian architecture. The present stone steps and railings at the front entrance were designed by Mr. Johnson in a Georgian style.
The last remnant of a former medieval monastic grange, this curious crooked dovecote sits prettily in the Worcestershire countryside.
Surviving virtually unaltered since the late 16th century, the picturesque dovecote, retains many of its nesting boxes and original features.
Elegant 17th-century manor house with a beautiful carved staircase rebuilt in approximately 1650 on an ancient site. The house is surrounded by approximately 25 acres of grounds. It is open to the public on a limited basis by arrangement with the tenant.
The foundations of a small medieval church on Bredenstone Hill, traditionally the site of King John's submission to the Papal Legate in 1213.
The tall shaft of a 15th century cross, on the site of an annual fair held from the 1100s until the 1950s.
The vast and immensely impressive ruins of a palatial medieval manor house arranged round a pair of courtyards, with a huge undercrofted Great Hall and a defensible High Tower 22 metres (72 feet) tall.
Prior’s Hall Barn is one of the finest surviving medieval barns in the east of England. Its wood is tree-ring dated to the mid-15th century. It boasts a breathtaking aisled interior and crown post roof, the product of some 400 oaks.
The only surviving monastic fishery building in England, this housed the Abbot of Glastonbury's water bailiff and provided facilities for fish-salting and drying.
In the Six Wells Bottom National Trust Valley, near Stourhead and King Alfred's Tower, stands the impressive Grade I listed St Peter's Pump.
Built in 1474, the pump originally stood near St Peter's Church at the west corner of Peter Street, Bristol and was used by residents as a main water supply.
The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
A 15-year-old boy fell 60ft over the edge of a cliff whilst on a geography school trip, miraculously only suffering minor injuries.