In 1666 fire sweeps through the old part of the city destroying 1000’s of buildings. This calamity is known as The Great Fire of London. Records suggest all but a handful of people escape unharmed. How did they escape the fire? At the time people asked who is responsible for the calamity: the Pudding Lane baker, arsonists, foreigners, God? Was it just an accident?
After a short introduction the children became a living tableau of 1666 London. With the addition of our costumes and props the children re-enact the progress of the devastation and attempt to manage the fire. This interactive storytelling leads the children to a deeper understanding of events, problems with the supply of water and building construction. Having escaped to safety the children engage in an object handling and recording activity to develop their analytical history skills. Adding experience workshops to the day further deepens and widens their knowledge of the Stuart period.
Visiting Characters
Jane the Baker
Wearing period clothing, Jane can tell a lively story of The Great Fire of London from a personal perspective. She has lost her home and most of her belongings to the fire and is now seeking a home outside London. Alternatively Jane can recount the story as told by one of customers at the Ordinary, Samuel Pepys, whose house survives the fire.
The Historian
The Historian tells the story of The Great Fire of 1666 from a wider historical context. Starting with the fire, learn what happened in the autumn of 1666 from the perspectives of three contemporary writers. Discover the consequences of small decisions and how an event over 350 years ago impacts life today.
Workshop Options
- Food
- Dance
- Artefact Analysis
- Clothes
- Hygiene
- Medicine
- Shopping
- Money
- Role-plays
Further information on how workshops operate is found here.
Virtual Great Fire of London Workshop
March 9th – launched #JanetheBaker as a virtual character. Focusing on the #GreatFireofLondon, Jane the Baker’s tales can look at events of the time from different perspectives. Choose between the diarist #SamuelPepys, the court testimony of #ThomasFaynor (accused of starting the fire), or her perspective.
As with the #MaryDavis – Titanic survivor workshop, the 60 minute virtual session is a mixture of tales of the time and linked interactive activities looking at developing historical empathy, sequencing and knowledge.
The virtual workshop is designed to take 60 minutes; plus finishing time. For which it is suggested 30 – 60 minutes might needed. Potentially creating a themed half day experience for learning groups and classes.
Virtual visits can be booked as hour, half day or full day sessions as suits class and year group needs. On the 9th, the federated partnership of Nettlestone Primary and Newchurch Primary opted for a half day split between the two schools.
#JanetheBaker #SamuelPepys #VirtualClassroomGreatFireofLondonCharacter #ThomasFaynor #CreativeHistoryVirtualVisits
Ready to enquire about a visit? Please click here.
Need further information? Please click here.