Bognor pupils given taste of life in Victorian era

Classes from Year 6 dressed in authentic Victorian costumes when they visited Manor Farm in Hampshire and, to the astonishment of the children, the day began with pupils milking a full-size cow.

"It was an absolutely fantastic day and brought alive everything we are teaching the children," said Year 6 teacher Seb Toy.

"Milking the cow was to give them a real Victorian experience.

"At lunch there were no lunchboxes, chocolates or sweets allowed, just paper bags and fruit.

"The day has given the children motivation to learn about the Victorians and feedback from parents has been that they genuinely get excited about the topic, which is wonderful for us teachers."

The pupils fed the calves by hand.

In traditional manner, the rest of the farm's animals were not-so-patiently waiting to be fed.

Pigs, sheep, chickens, rabbits, ducks, turkeys, horses and even guinea fowl all tucked in. After the farm settled down the children started at school.

No computers, whiteboards or even pencils were allowed to be used by pupils, just rows of ink-stained wooden desks, chalky slates and a very prim and strict Victorian schoolmistress met their awed eyes.

After times tables practise, a grammar lesson and an elocution drill it was time to help around the house.

The housekeeper took them into a world without electricity where they cleaned clothes in soapy sludge on a washboard and squeezed the water out with a wonderful, genuine Victorian mangle.

At the end of the day, the children pickled vegetables as well as baking bread and ironing.

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