Sessions in Lydiard House
History comes to life with stories, costume and artefact handling in a beautifully restored setting. Our sessions transport pupils to another age, where they can meet people from the past and find out what life was like long ago.
Sessions for Schools
Come to Lydiard Park for a day packed full of exciting discoveries and hands-on experiences! Choose from our range of indoor and outdoor sessions to stimulate and inspire your pupils. Our cross-curricular sessions for Summer term 2008 are led by Education Officers and Park Wardens and will encourage your pupils to explore, investigate, think and reflect.
Early Years
Key Stage 1
Key Stage 2
The Victorian Country House and Garden
Larger Groups
Bespoke events for Key Stage 3 and 4.
Our Schools Programme
Once Upon A Time: A Sense of Time for Early Years
Age range: Early Years
60 minutes / £4.00 per pupil
Curiosity will be aroused as children join Vernon – the last child to live at Lydiard House – on his Treasure Hunt through the State Rooms, with rhymes, mystery objects and a bedtime story. This fun introduction to museums will help to develop a sense of fun for very young children.
Little People in a Big House - History for Key Stage 1
Age range: Key Stage 1
90 minutes / £4.50 per pupil
Choose your focus from Toys or Everyday Life. Imagine what life would have been like for a child living at Lydiard House over 100 years ago, with Lydiard Park as their very own garden. Pupils take on the roles of family members and servants to discover what went on in the state rooms and investigate traditional toys or domestic objects.
The Victorian Country House and Garden - History for Key Stage 2
Age range: Key Stage 2
120 minutes / £5.00 per pupil
What would it have been like to live in Lydiard House in Victorian times? Who worked in the house and park to maintain its luxury? Visiting the house, stables and walled garden, pupils will hear anecdotes of everyday life and investigate artefacts to help them empathise with the situations of real people from the past, reflecting on how and why lifestyles have altered over the years.
Dig Lydiard - Archaeology for all
Age range: Key Stages 1 & 2
All day / £5.00 per pupil
How do we know what life was like before we were born? This is a practical session in 2 parts. Pupils will learn how archaeologists and historians use different kinds of evidence to piece together the story of the past. As Archaeologists, they will work on a simulated ‘trench’ and use specialist skills to uncover hidden evidence. As Historians, they will investigate the lives of people who have lived and worked here in the past by exploring evidence in the House and Park.
Please note: due to the nature of this activity, it is only available for 1 class per day.
Story Walk: Language and Literacy for Early Years
Age range: pre-school/Early Years
60 minutes / £4.00 per pupil
Classic stories are brought to life with simple props, puppets and participation, sowing the seeds of story writing skills in an inspirational setting. This is a great way to introduce young children to the historical and beautiful landscape of Lydiard Park.
Wild About Lydiard! - explore the natural environment
Age range: key stages 1 and 2
90 minutes / £4.50 per pupil
120 minutes / £5.00 per pupil
Encourage scientific enquiry and develop thinking skills and creativity as pupils discover the natural world of Lydiard Park. This session is tailored to your requirements and can include understanding land use, tree investigations, exploring the walled garden, woodland and water habitats and learning field craft skills.
How Does Your Garden Grow? - for Key Stage 1
Age range: Key Stage 1
60 minutes / £4.00 per pupil
Pupils will learn about the history behind gardens and discover why they were designed to be both beautiful and useful. Outside, pupils will uncover the hiding places of small creatures, magnify the plants, meet the gardeners at work and handle tools, with the opportunity to create their own miniature garden.
Night Walks - experience the Park and Woodland as dusk falls.
Church Detectives - a church based session for Key Stage 1
Age range: Key Stage 1
60 minutes / £4.00 per pupil
Pupils take on the roles of people who lived and worked on the Lydiard Estate in the past and discover how the church was interwoven into daily life, consider how it is used nowadays and identify the main features of the building.
Stories in the Stone - a church based session for Key Stage 2
Age range: Key Stages 2 & 3
90 minutes / £4.50 per pupil
Pupils will listen to stories contained within the ancient stone walls and use investigative skills to explore and reflect upon the significance of the objects they find, comparing how the church was used in the past and how it is used today.
Lydiard Alive! - a themed activity day for larger groups.
Booking Information
To make a booking, please telephone Lydiard House on 01793 770401 or email knash@swindon.gov.uk.
Accompanying adults are free of charge with a minimum ratio of 1:5 at KS1, 1:10 at KS2 and 1:15 at KS3 & 4.
Please note that there is a minimum charge for groups of less than 20 pupils.
Lydiard House and the Walled Garden are closed on Mondays.
Teacher-led visits
Please contact the Education Officer to arrange a teacher-led school visit to Lydiard House or Park.
The standard group admission charge to Lydiard House and Walled Garden will apply.
A Teacher’s Pack can be purchased for £10.00, containing:
historic images, notes on Lydiard House and St Mary’s Church and a Landscape Trail.
The Coach House
Our education room can accommodate 36 people seated at tables. The standard charge is £20.00 per hour unless an education session is booked.
Payment Information
All session prices include admission, use of the Coach House and materials unless specified.
Schools are asked to pay at the till by cash or cheque at the start of their visit.
See the leaflet Spring / Summer 2008 leaflet (PDF)
For more information or to make a booking, please telephone 01793 770401 or email knash@swindon.gov.uk.