British Schools Museum
British Schools Museum
41/42 Queen Street
Hitchin
Hertfordshire
SG4 9TS
England
Website
www.hitchinbritishschools.org.uk
All enquiries
admin@hitchinbritishschools.org.uk
Telephone
01462 420144
Fax
General
01462 422133
1810 to 2010 The British Schools in Hitchin are 200 years old! Today the British Schools Museum shows elementary education in Britain from 1798 to the 1960s. Buildings include the only surviving Lancasterian School-room (1837) where ONE master taught 300 boys, and the Galleried Classroom (1853) for 110 boys. The Girls' and Infants school (1857) houses the display areas, cafe and shop. Edwardian classrooms (1905) contain desks, teaching aids and children's work. Mr Fitch's, the Headmaster's House is restored and furnished to the late Victorian period.
There are Victorian toys to play with, and a Discovery Trail to try out old school methods, sitting in the classrooms, using the dip pens - dressed up of course!
Venue Type:
Museum
Additional info
Regrettably the Victorian architects and builders did not cater for visitors with disabilities, but we have greatly improved accessibility by installing slopes and ramps where steps used to be. We regret that the Gallery Classroom is not accessible to wheelchairs. The Headmaster's House has one step to negotiate.
British Schools Museum
41/42 Queen Street
Hitchin
Hertfordshire
SG4 9TS
England
Website
www.hitchinbritishschools.org.uk
All enquiries
admin@hitchinbritishschools.org.uk
Telephone
01462 420144
Fax
General
01462 422133
The Museum houses the Jill Grey Collection of Childhood and Educational Material. Around 35,000 items related to education of children from the 17th Century collected by Hitchin resident Jill Grey (one-time personal assistant to Frank Whittle). There have been many later additions to the museums resources acquired after the death of Jill Grey.
Collection details
Toys and Hobbies, Social History, Archives
Key artists and exhibits
- School Museum
- Schoolroom Museum
- Schools Museum
- British Schools
- British & Foreign Schools Society
- Jill Grey Collection of Childhood and Education Memorabilia.
- Benchmark Collection of childhood material.
- Joseph Lancaster - education for the working poor
- Monitorial Teaching
- Lancasterian Schoolroom
- Galleried Classroom
- A unique collection of 19th and 20th Century Schoolrooms.
- Museum of Victorian life and childhood - toys to play with.
- Victorian School lessons for School groups.
- Early elementary education and educationalists.
- Educational, School Registers and Archives.
- Victorian Toys
- Postcards
- Cartes de Visite
Collections services
- Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
British Schools Museum
41/42 Queen Street
Hitchin
Hertfordshire
SG4 9TS
England
Website
www.hitchinbritishschools.org.uk
All enquiries
admin@hitchinbritishschools.org.uk
Telephone
01462 420144
Fax
General
01462 422133
A Day of Celebration in Hitchin
A chance for everyone to help the British Schools Museum to celebrate a 200 year anniversary. Welcome Mr Joseph Lancaster to Hitchin as he tours the town in a horse-drawn carriage. Watch William Wilshere, Thomas Brand (Lord Dacre) and Thomas Dimsey as they recreate the opening of the Dead Street Monitorial School in 1810 - the School that became the British Schools, then Queen Street School and now the British Schools Museum.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
From 11am
Where
Hitchin
Easter Weekend at the British Schools Museum
On Saturday 3 April (10 - 1) and Sunday 4th April (2 - 5) there will be a special Easter Egg Trail for children exploring the old school classrooms. Guided tours for the grown-ups!
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Especially for children
- All ages
When
10am-5pm
Where
The British Schools Museum, Hitchin
Admission
Admission £4.50 Adult, £2 child, Family £12. Contact 01462 420144 www.hitchinbritishschools.org.uk
Lunchtime Talks at the British Schools Museum
Bring your lunch and listen to a series of 7 one-hour talks on 200 years of the history of education, the story of the British Schools,and some of the people who worked and learned there. Every Tuesday commencing at 12.30. 13 Apr: The Poor Child's Friend - Joseph Lancaster 1778-1838. 20 Apr: The Dead Street Monitorial Schools 1808 -1826. 27 Apr:The Early Trust Years 1826 -1845 (Dacre,Trust,Wiles,Lord Brooks, Ward).
4 May:The Government Gets Involved 1845-1902.
11 May:Some Special Pupils 1850 -1945.
18 May:Wars and Change 1902 -1969.
25 May: Jill Grey - Collector Extraordinary ( - 1987).
Suitable for
- All ages
When
12:30-1:30pm
Where
The British Schools Museum, Hitchin
Admission
£2 per session or come to all 7 sessions for £10. Contact 01462 420144 Website: hitchinbritishschools.org.uk
Games from the Past and Present
Wednesday and Thursday 14th & 15th April at the British Schools Museum from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Spend a morning at the British Schools Museum and learn to play a new game.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Especially for children
- All ages
When
10am-12pm
Where
The British Schools Museum, Hitchin
Admission
Places must be booked in advance. Cost £3 per session (includes light refreshments). Contatc 01462 420144 Website: www.hitchinbritishschools.org.uk
A Traditional Old Time Music Hall Evening
In Hitchin's Historic Town Hall, Brand St. Hitchin, SG5 1HX.
Performed by the Phoenix Music Hall Company with special Pie and Pickles Supper included.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
From 7:30pm
Where
Hitchin Town Hall, Brand St. Hitchin
Admission
Information and Tickets (£12) from Jacky Birch, British Schools Museum, Queen Street, Hitchin SG4 9TS. Cheques payable to Hitchin British Schools Trust.
Website: www.hitchinbritishschools.org.uk.
May Day Celebrations for children and their families.
At the British Schools Museum,join the revels and learn new skills: Maypole Dancing, Victorian games, Country Dancing.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Especially for children
- All ages
When
10am-12pm
Where
British Schools Museum, Hitchin
Admission
Free entry. Light refreshments available to purchase. Contact 01462 420144. Website; www.hitchibritishschools.org.uk
School Reunion at the British Schools Museum
Did you attend the Queen Street School in Hitchin before 1969, or go to classes at the Queen Street Centre 1970 - 1990? Do you know that the school traces its roots to 1810 and is 200 years old this year? And did you know that it is now the popular British Schools Museum of Elementary Education that attracts visitors from around the world? Come back and see us - and perhaps meet your old school friends at a School Reunion on Friday 7th May between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you can't come then, come any time we're open and just say hello!
Suitable for
- All ages
When
11am-4pm
Where
The British Schools Museum, Hitchin
Admission
Free.
Hitchin Museums at Night: Victorian School Experience
Journey back in time to the British Schools Museum for a lesson from the Victorian schoolmistress in our 1853 classroom. You’ll use slates, dip pens and inkwells, and learn sums in old money - pounds, shillings and pence! The curator will talk about the school – 200 years old this year – while children can dress up to get into character. Entry will be half price to mark Museums at Night, and you can have a cuppa in our café and visit the gift shop before going on the special late show at Hitchin Museum & Art Gallery in Paynes Park.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
6:30-8:30pm
Where
British Schools Museum, Queen St.,Hitchin
Admission
Cost per session : Adults £2, Children £1. Contact 01462 420144. Website: hitchibritishschools.org.uk.
Father's Day at the British Schools Museum
Take Dad back to school for Father's Day - a monitorial Lesson in a real Victorian Classroom. Be prompt - lessons start at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
From 2:30pm
Where
British Schools Museum, Queen St. Hitchin
Admission
Admission £4.50 adults, £2 children - free tea and a cake for accompanied Dads! Contact 01462 420144. Website: hitchinbritishschools.org.uk
Fair in the Square
All the Fun of the Fair including all the stalls you'd expect: cakes, preserves, bric-a-brac, books, plants, crafts, jewellery and tombola. Presented by the Friends of the British Schools Museum.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
From 9am
Where
Hitchin Market Square
Admission
Contact 01462 454198.
British Schools Museum
41/42 Queen Street
Hitchin
Hertfordshire
SG4 9TS
England
Website
www.hitchinbritishschools.org.uk
All enquiries
admin@hitchinbritishschools.org.uk
Telephone
01462 420144
Fax
General
01462 422133
British Schools Museum
41/42 Queen Street
Hitchin
Hertfordshire
SG4 9TS
England
Website
www.hitchinbritishschools.org.uk
All enquiries
admin@hitchinbritishschools.org.uk
Telephone
01462 420144
Fax
General
01462 422133
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