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.
This Victorian jail was built by Hansom (famous for the Hansom Cab) in 1829. The gaol features the only original tread wheel in situ in Britain and a gibbet is still fixed to the outer wall.
This building is full of sad memories and secrets providing a fascinating insight into the world of the prisoner during the 1800s.
Step inside this charming old building to enjoy an exhibition of Beatrix Potter's original drawings and watercolours. This year we discover what it was like to go ‘On holiday with Beatrix Potter’ and how her unique travels inspired her wonderful stories.
Formerly the home of the Wright-Taylor family, Baysgarth House has been in public ownership since 1930. In 2004 Champ Ltd took over the management of the house including its buildings, museum, collections and archives. Baysgarth House Museum celebrates the lives of local people through permanent and temporary exhibitions and projects.
'That's She! The Only She! Make an honest woman of her - quick!' was how Rudyard Kipling and his wife, Carrie, felt the first time they saw Bateman's.
Surrounded by the wooded landscape of the Sussex Weald, this 17th-century house, with its mullioned windows and oak beams, provided a much needed sanctuary to this world-famous writer.
Basing House has a Museum with rooms dedicated to everyday life in the Tudor period and the Civil War as it happened here at the site.
School Visits
Basildon Park, a Georgian mansion surrounded by parkland, was lovingly rescued by Lord and Lady Iliffe in the mid 1950s. The house you see today is a re-creation and restoration of the 18th-century mansion. They restored the elegant interior and scoured the country salvaging 18th-century architectural fixtures and fittings.
For curious children, a medieval moated century manor house with a 19th century Catholic chapel, gardens, lakeside walk and nature trail. Tire them out first and there's enough for a couple of hours.
This atmospheric house dates from the 15th century and was the home of the Ferrers family for 500 years.
Avoncroft Museum is home to over 30 different buildings and structures which have been rescued and re-built in rural Worcestershire. The Museum is spread over 19 acres and includes a wildflower meadow, period gardens, a traditional cider and perry orchard as well as the collection of historic buildings.
The Museum holds other historic collections which include:
The Auld Post Office Turriff is now a museum. The museum houses Town Council memorabilia, artefacts relating to the famous Turra Coo (Turriff cow), old Turriff photographs and temporary exhibitions. The robes and regalia of Turriff Town Council, which was disbanded in 1975, are also on display.
Astley Hall is a museum and art gallery housed within a Grade I listed historic house. The Hall is set within the beautiful surroundings of Astley Park which include historic woodland, a lake, a fully renovated Victorian walled garden alongside clean and modern facilities for visitors to enjoy.
Aston Hall and Park are hugely popular with family audiences and have a full programme of events, activities and trails throughout the season.
Admission charges apply to the Hall only. Gardens, grounds and visitor facilities are free to all vistors. There is free admission to the entire site on the first Sunday in every month during the open season.
The Welsh Government is the devolved Government for Wales. It takes on many of the functions of the UK Parliament.
We are working to help improve the lives of people in Wales and make our nation a better place in which to live and work.
Pre-booked guided tours are available, free of charge, at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay (seven days a week)
Imagine the luxury that would once have surrounded the proud owner of this lavish Roman residence. This palace was certainly fit for a king. Stroll around the recreated Roman gardens – the earliest gardens found anywhere in the country – and enjoy the largest collection of mosaics in situ in the UK.
Schools
Find out about the part played by this beautiful medieval house in the story of one of England’s most famous kings, Henry VIII. Other highlights include the authentically furnished kitchen and the garden which uses traditional plants and Tudor planting schemes.
Education
Discover where the young William Shakespeare courted his future bride Anne Hathaway at her picturesque family home.
The Ancient High House is one of the finest Tudor buildings in the country. Once dominating the skyline of Stafford, it is the largest remaining timber framed town house in England.
Loads of displays on different angles of history, spread across 12 interesting rooms and the garden. Join the Junior Almoners' Club for bonus trails and activities.
The Almonry exhibitions span 12 rooms and pretty much the whole of recorded time for the region, from prehistoric displays to Anglo-Saxon burial treasure, through to textile, horticultural and social history.
A very rare example of a composite structure, featuring a wooden frame with reed and plaster (visible from within the house), encased in brick.
Ground floor and first floor rooms feature design interventions from Georgian through to Victorian times, whilst the attic floor is virtually untouched since 1611.
English Heritage's best known role is as the steward of over 400 significant historical and archeological sites, from Stonehenge to the world's earliest iron bridge. It has direct ownership over some historic sites and also liaises with private owners of sites that are managed under guardianship arrangements.
Clandon Park is one of the country’s most complete examples of a Palladian mansion. Built by a Venetian architect for Lord Onslow in the 1720s, the estate has been passed down through generations of this famous family.
The Old Baptist Chapel is another gem in Tewkesbury’s crown. The chapel, situated on Church Street, started life in the 15th century as a three bay hall house and was later adapted for worship. It is one of the oldest Baptist churches in Britain. The Baptist movement was started by two English men, John Smyth and Thomas Helwys, in Holland in 1609.
This extraordinary early 20th-century country villa is a masterpiece of Modernist design, in the midst of a picturesque woodland garden not far from Esher in Surrey. It was designed by the architect Patrick Gwynne for his family - his father, mother, sister and himself - and completed in the early summer of 1938.
We protect and open to the public over 350 historic houses, gardens and ancient monuments. It doesn’t stop there. We also look after forests, woods, fens, beaches, farmland, downs, moorland, islands, archaeological remains, castles, nature reserves, villages - for ever, for everyone.
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.