On Tuesday, 9th June, Etone Exceeding Excellence pupils walked to Chilvers Coton Heritage Centre where they took part in two local history sessions. In their social history session delivered in the parlour, volunteer, John showed pupils a chair which belonged to the chairman of the workhouse which used to stand on College Street, also explaining that the street took its name from the Victorian euphemism for the workhouse, 'The College for the Poor'. John gave pupils a wealth of information about Victorian life and the origins of the heritage centre building and the Newdegate family.
Volunteer, Rob introduced Etone pupils to the Victorian school room complete with rules, punishments and rewards. No-one liked the look of the cane, strap, and dunce's hat through many excelled at writing with a dip pen. Rob explained how dip pens were adopted because quills needed to be trimmed so regularly (and the origins of the term 'pen knife' as it was the knife used to sharpen the pen).
We would like to thank John and Rob for their time, enthusiasm and for sharing their knowledge with our pupils so freely. We will be returning soon.
