At Historic Cowdray our education service contains specialist tours for every age group, with a focus on a hands on/participatory experience for younger groups and a more diverse range of subjects for older groups. We also provide historic and archaeological tours for adult and specialist interest groups on request.
To give you a bit of background - Cowdray was built in the early Tudor period and was severely damaged by a catastrophic fire in 1793, but a catastrophe of one era has turned out to be a blessing of another. The fire meant that Cowdray was never modernised and is therefore a fantastic example of a Tudor and Stuart house.
Details of our primary, secondary and further education tours, workshops and activities are outlined below. Please contact the education officer (Jez Smith) on 01730 814347 if you wish to find out more about what we have to offer.
Primary Schools
The Medieval Experience: Life in a Castle
Cowdray contains many defensive features often associated with a medieval castle. Discover how a castle would have utilised these defences, what weapons they would have used and what life would have been like for its inhabitants. The tour includes handling replica objects. Suitable for key stages 1-3.
The Tudor Experience: Preparing for the Royal Visit!
Cowdray has played host to many distinguished Royal visitors including Henry VIII, Edward VI and Elizabeth I. Find out what life would have been like in a great country household as it prepares for an important visitor. The tour includes object handling, speaking Tudor phrases and concludes with a dance in the Great Hall! Suitable for Key Stages 1-3.
The Stuarts: The Great Fire and Guy Fawkes
The occupants of Cowdray were involved in the political events during one of the most turbulent periods of English history. This included one famous servant who went onto a greater and more dangerous occupation! Follow the trail of Guy Fawkes as he prepares to go to London and compare the Great Fire of London with the terrible fire at Cowdray. This tour includes object handling, role play and a bucket chain activity. Suitable for key stages 1-2.
Discovering Archaeology
Extensive archaeological research in the early 20th century and more recent chance finds during maintenance work has revealed a great deal of tantalising evidence related to the house and provides an exciting indication of what future excavations could reveal. This tour looks at this evidence and concludes with an opportunity to examine and handle a range of artefacts. Archaeology can be used to cover cross curricular subjects including history, creative writing, science and design technology. Additional activities such as drawing and recording objects and recognising typological sequences can be included as part of the tour. Adaptable for all age groups.
Knights, Damsels and Dragons
Use your imagination and investigative skills as we look for clues and learn about Princess Katy and her encounter with a terrible dragon! Suitable for key stages 1-2.
Literature, Stories and Cowdray
A literacy-based exploration of the intriguing mythical stories and legends associated with Cowdray, designed to fuel the imagination! Suitable for key stage 2 / able pupils.
Additional Workshops and Trails
Activities can be included as part of your visit to help you and your group make the most out of your day! Activities as wide ranging as quill pen writing, armour drawing, discovering broadside ballads, arrow making (arts and crafts), pomander bead making, soap ball making, drawing Tudor miniature portraits and heraldry are available.
Demonstrations such as period cooking, archery and period music (both playing and listening/analysis options) are available. Trails such as the mason’s mark, dragon and an architectural trail can also be added to make the most of your day at Historic Cowdray!
Secondary and Further Education
Historic Tours
Cowdray House was built during the Tudor period and remained in use until its destruction in the Georgian era. The tour focuses on the history, function and development of the house over time. We also consider how the fortunes of its owners were affected by the major political and historic events of the period. The house provides us with a tantalising insight into the social and political history of the Tudor, Stuart and Georgian eras. On request our historic tours can also include a visit to St Anne’s Hill next to Cowdray where an earlier Norman manor house was located.
Archaeology and Cowdray
Extensive archaeological research in the early 20th century and more recent chance finds during maintenance work has revealed a great deal of tantalising evidence related to the house and provides an exciting indication of what future excavations could reveal. This tour will conclude with the opportunity to handle a collection of archaeological samples.
Additional activities for schools/colleges provide an introduction to archaeological recording methods including: drawing pottery/glass fragments, identifying the age of an object (typology/clay pipes), drawing plans of historic buildings. Historical research and analysis is available for older school/college groups.
Period music through the ages / presentation
Look at history through the eyes of the musician. Music has played an important role in society through the ages, many of our modern musical traditions and instruments have their origins stretching back hundreds of years. This presentation focuses on European music from the medieval and renaissance periods, starting with the Troubadours of France and finishing with the court musicians of the Tudor age. This presentation will be interspersed with performances on several instruments including the lute guitar, bagpipes and hurdy-gurdy.
Music groups/classes are encouraged to bring their own acoustic instruments and to play around the site to discover what it feels like to play in an inspiring location and how to utilise the acoustic qualities of different areas around the site.
The Role of the Servant in a Great Household
Meet the Steward of Cowdray who will show you what life would have been like for a servant in a great country house. This tour utilises the historical record (including the Book of Orders and Rules from Cowdray, 1595) to provide further evidence of how these people worked and lived. Some servants positions were high status and could involve a great deal of responsibility. One servant at Cowdray went onto a greater and more dangerous occupation, find out who!
Period Cooking Tour/Demonstration
Come and experience a historic cooking demonstration in our unique surviving Tudor kitchen. Robert May, the internationally renowned cook, worked at Cowdray in the 1630s and went on to write one of the most influential cook books of all time. Discover what it would have been like for Robert May to cook for a large country house such as Cowdray.
PRICES FOR EDUCATIONAL GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE:
- Children (up to 16 years old) - £3.50 each
- Accompanying adults - free
- Optional Guide - £30.00 per guide (max 20 students per guide)
- Price includes Education Pack and a certificate at the end of the tour entitling the child to free entry on a return visit with a parent or guardian.
If you would like to come and have a look around or have any questions please do not hesitate to call.
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