Salisbury Cathedral School News
09/03/2010
Year 3 visit Sevington Victorian School
Year 3 pupils at Salisbury Cathedral School stepped back in time to 1898 when, each dressed in Victorian clothes and answering to a new Victorian name, they spent a fascinating and enjoyable day at the original Sevington Victorian School, near Chippenham.
From the moment of arrival with the ringing of the school bell, the children were in role. They were met at the school by the stern school mistress, Miss Squire, and told in no uncertain terms that “children should be seen and not heard”. The day passed purposefully, accompanied by the ticking of the clock and the crackling flames in the fireplace, with activities including reading, arithmetic, science, handwriting on slates and in copy books and lavender bag and beeswax candle making. After a simple lunch of bread, cheese, cake, fruit and a mug of water, the children played happily outside in the sunshine, trying their hand with hoops, tops, hobby horses and many other Victorian toys. There followed recitation, citizenship and a demonstration of the cane and the dunce’s hat – luckily no child’s behaviour had warranted either! A prayer signalled the end of the day when they lined up and walked in silence back to the school minibus where all normal identities were resumed and much excited chatter was testament to a memorable day.
