Victorian Workshop

"Our mining investigation was tied into our own village's history. Richard's delivery meant that my class was so engaged that we will use it as the basis for our entire Local History section of the curriculum. Truly inspirational!"

- Durham teacher
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KS1: Victorian Houses and Homes (Half-day)

Find out about houses and homes in Victorian times using original artefacts. How did we iron, cook, clean or do the washing before electricity or running water? What is a 'gazunda' for? Can we work out which materials have been used to make the artefacts? How would you look, dressed as a washer woman or a miner?

This half-day session is designed to be fun and interactive and uses drama and costume to bring Victorian homes to life. It also works very well in conjunction with the Toys in the Past workshop for KS1 (click here).

KS2: Mining Investigation (Full-day)

This investigation takes a full-day, and can be followed up with further drama-based workshops.

Find out about the North East's mining communities in Victorian times by studying REAL people from your area.

That History Bloke has trawled the archives to find examples of coal miners and their families in order to carry out a thinking skills-based investigation. Use primary sources such as censuses, old maps, photographs and newspaper reports to piece together tragic events. Learn about the dirty, dangerous job of coal mining by holding, smelling and using equipment that was once used underground. Get a feel for life in the community above ground by climbing in a tin bath, possing the washing, or getting to grips with a flat iron.