British Schools Museum

E-mail

All enquiries

Telephone

01462 420144

Fax

General

01462 422133

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

1810 to 2010 - the British Schools site in Hitchin is over 200 years old! Today the British Schools Museum celebrates the history of elementary education in Britain from 1798 to the 1960s.

The listed buildings include the only surviving Lancasterian School-room (1837) where ONE master taught 300 boys, and the Galleried Classroom (1853) for 110 boys. Also includes refurbished Edwardian and WW2/1950s classrooms and include examples of children's work. The Girls' and Infants school (1857) includes display areas, cafe and gift shop. Headmaster's House is a listed mid-Victorian house has been restored and furnished to the late Victorian period.

Around the site there are Victorian toys to play with, and a Family Discovery Trail to explore this unique collection of buildings. Come and sit in the classrooms, use a dip pens, and discover what the headmaster kept in his parlour! Children can dress up in pinafores, bonnets and caps to experience early school days!

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Venue Type:

Museum, Archive, Heritage site

Opening hours

Open to public between 14 February - 27 November 2012
Open Tuesdays 10am - 4pm; Saturdays 10am - 1pm; Sundays 2pm - 5pm

Visit website for information on extra openings and special events in 2012.

Schools groups, clubs, societies and private groups are accommodated throughout the year by arrangement. Please telephone for details.

Admission charges

Admission:
£4.50 adults
£2 children (5 - 16 years)
Family ticket £12 (two adults and up to 4 children of school age)
Pre-booked group visits £7 incl refreshments and a Victorian lesson, or an extended talk on the history of elementary education.

General services and facilities

Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
Foreign language leaflet or brochure available
Guided tours
Information point provided
Pre-booking service for groups
Refreshments
Shop
Toilets

Children and families

Events and resources for children and families
Baby changing facilities

Disability access

Events/teaching/resources for people with disabilities
Touch exhibits
Parking for disabled available
Toilets for disabled
Wheelchair access to some public areas

Schools services and facilities

Direct teaching services for schools
Member of staff available with responsibility for education
Primary school education service available
Secondary school education service available
Education facilities available

Research and adult learning

Academic publications and resources available
Adult lectures and courses held
Research facilities for academics

Commercial and hire services

Meeting room available

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

E-mail

All enquiries

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 identification and/or written enquiry service
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)

British Schools Museum
41/42 Queen Street
Hitchin
Hertfordshire
SG4 9TS
England

Website

E-mail

All enquiries

Telephone

01462 420144

Fax

General

01462 422133

Events details are listed below. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all. For events that don't have a specific date see the 'Resources' tab above.

Dancing For Fun

14 February 2012

Come and join us! If you child is under 8 years old, please telephone us before booking. Thank you. Numbers are limited so please book in advance. Tel: 01462 420144.

Suitable for

Especially for children

When

Where

British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin, SG4 9TS

Admission

£3 to include light refreshments.

COURT ENTERTAINMENT TO CEILIDH

17 February 2012

Musician Mike Ruff teams up with social & dress historian Ann Wise to explore the development of English Country Dancing from Tudor times through to 21st ceilidhs and barn dances. A very informal evening - audience participation is encouraged (but not compulsory)!

Suitable for

18+
16-17
14-15

When

7-10:30pm

Where

British Schools Museum, Hitchin

Admission

Tickets £6 - cash bar

Website

MUSICAL TOURS

17 February 2012

An exciting collaboration between the british Schools Museum and musician Mike Ruff. Objects have been selected from around the museum to take visitors around the site to explore history from a very different angle! Each object is linked to an old song or dance. Suitable for everyone. Three Musical tours throughout the day.

Suitable for

5-6
11-13
16-17
18+
14-15
7-10

When

3-4pm

Where

British Schools Museum, Hitchin

Admission

Adults £3, Children £2

Website

MUSICAL TOURS

17 February 2012

Suitable for

5-6
11-13
16-17
18+
14-15
7-10

When

11:15am-12:15pm

Where

British Schools Museum, Hitchin

Admission

Adults £3, Children £2

Website

MUSICAL TOURS

17 February 2012

Suitable for

5-6
11-13
16-17
18+
14-15
7-10

When

1:15-2:15pm

Where

British Schools Museum, Hitchin

Admission

Adults £3, Children £2

Website

May Day Celebrations

7 May 2012

Join the revels and learn new skills: Maypole Dancing, Victorian Games, Country Dancing. Light refreshments available to purchase.

Suitable for

Especially for children
Family friendly

When

10am-12:30pm

Where

The British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin. SG4 9TS

British Schools Museum
41/42 Queen Street
Hitchin
Hertfordshire
SG4 9TS
England

Website

E-mail

All enquiries

http://home.btconnect.com/hitchinbritishschools/

Telephone

01462 420144

Fax

General

01462 422133

Resources listed here may include websites, bookable tours and workshops, books, loan boxes and more. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all.

Face to face resources

Sundays with the Family

On the last Sunday of each month, enjoy events specifically for families to enjoy together at the British Schools Museum, for example experience a Victorian school lesson.
Times vary according to the event so check the website for specific details.

How to obtain

Admission fees apply to the museum. Check the website for details of specific events and extra charges. Booking is essential for most events so call the museum on 01462 42014 in advance.

Victorian Schooldays at the British Schools Museum

School classes dress as Victorian children for a sample Victorian school lesson, then visit the museum room with worksheets to work with displays of toys and home life. They then sit and discuss "treasures" with a "Victorian" lady or gentleman. Wednesdays and Thursdays are preferred days, from 9 or 9:30 am to around 1pm. Space available for pupils bringing packed lunches.

How to obtain

Please telephone the Education department on 01462 420144 to determine availability, and you will be sent a data pack and form.

British Schools Museum
41/42 Queen Street
Hitchin
Hertfordshire
SG4 9TS
England

Website

E-mail

All enquiries