Wednesday 28 August 2013

Local history tour for kids

Today I thought I'd chance my arm at something vaguely educational  - during the summer holidays, shock horror!

I've been really fascinated trawling through my local 'past and present' page on Facebook and thought it might be fun to get Ruby out on a bit of a history hunt.


I printed off some old photos - search on Facebook to see if you have a local page, or check out the local history section of your library - failing that you can do a Google image search for historic photos of where you live.

Armed with a clipboard; camera; suncream and some emergency snacks, we headed out.

It was great fun searching out the photo locations, using local knowledge, a print of an old map and the modern day map app on my phone.  We married up features to check we were in the right places, then chatted about the differences and the changes over the years.



Ruby noticed how there were hardly any cars about in the 'olden days', compared to now.  We also noted how there are lots more houses, and they are much closer together.  She learnt how to pick out architectural features in houses to cross check them with our old pictures - she noticed how windows generally remained the same (or at least in the same places), chimneys were often recognisable even if properties had been extended, whereas front door-ways, fences and gardens had often changed.


Of course, the town's war memorial hasn't changed (but for having World War II's fallen locals added), but the surroundings are barely recognisable.




Using the old map, we found the rough location of the old windmill which burnt down over 100 years ago, but had once milled the corn for the whole village and beyond from the many fields and farms around.



The one she found most interesting was a picture of a horse and plough in the middle of a cornfield - standing slap bang exactly where her school stands today.

It was a fascinating day, we learnt a lot about our town and it's history, had a lot of fun; fresh air; plenty of exercise (turns out we were walking around for 4 hours) and best of all it was totally free!

There was something oddly comforting, yet humbling standing taking photos in the exact same spot that someone else had all those years before.

Do you fancy a local history tour?  How does your home town differ now from 100 years ago?


Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall


29 comments:

  1. I love love love this activity! What a great idea!!!! So want to do this with my kids!

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    1. Thanks Maggy, your two would love it I think x

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  2. That is absolutely fascinating! I must do this with my children, we live in a historic village although our house is on a new estate. I know that there was an old mill very close to where we live, it would be lovely to find some pictures of it and work out where it was. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thank you Jennifer. Oh you should, I bet you'd be amazed what used to be on the land where your house is x

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  3. Love this! Sounds like you had a fab day! I did something similar a couple of years ago when my Nan announced her father was born in the town I had moved too. It was fascinating to see how things had changed or stayed the same! I managed to find the house he was born in (still standing) and see the area where he would of worked. I also managed to find the war memorial tree for his brother!

    I love things like this!

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    1. Oh wow, that's really fascinating! I'd love to do that. It's got us all inspired and I think I might check out the census records and chart all the people who lived in our house.

      After visiting the war memorial, I found that you can look all the inscriptions up online, and suddenly they're not just names on a plaque, but young men, sons, husbands who lived in streets nearby. It's brought history to life for us! x

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  4. A lovely idea and educational too. I love the old pictures. A great end of holifay idea to get back into the swing of learning.

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    1. Thanks Fiona, it was a lovely way to spend time together.

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  5. What a fantastic idea!! I really love this, going to have to do this some time with my two. just got to find some old pictures now :-)

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    1. Thanks Gina. I found loads on the internet, and some in some history books at the local library. Hope you give it a try x

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  6. What a lovely idea, I'm going to do this with my eldest. Pinning it now!! :)

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  7. What a wonderful idea. Living in Bath makes it easy to organise

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    1. Oooh Bath would be fabulous to explore this way x

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  8. I'm joining the chorus - this is such a wonderful idea and project for the kids! Fun for them while they learn in a real way how things have changed over time.

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  9. I'll join in too - what a fantastic idea! Love it! #CountryKids

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  10. What a lovely post, love the juxtaposition of the old and new photos. Looks like both you and Ruby got a lot from the activity. My mum used to tell us a lot of local history when we went out walking as kids, but she was brought up in the town we lived in - but people move around so much now as mums we don't necessarily know the history of the places we live in, so your activity is a great one for both young and old.

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    1. Thank you Molly. Yes, this isn't the town I grew up in so it was interesting for me to learn too. x

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  11. What an absolutely fabulous idea. I sometimes chat with the pensioners as I wait for the bus to go into town, many of whom have lived in the same house 50 years or more, and have seen all the changes taking place in the neighbourhood. My girl finds it really interesting too. And this sort of thing would really bring it to life for her. Fantastic idea!

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    1. Thank you Carin. She was really fascinated to hear her school and playing fields used to be a farm, and seeing the pictures made it easy for her to visualise.

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  12. What a fantastic idea! I'd love to give that a go where I live :-)

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  13. what a great idea Lizzy! need to o it fir my eldest too! so inventive.
    Visiting via the Parenting pin-it party and have pinned your post in my parenting board x

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  14. This is such a fabulous idea. So going to do this with my little man. Thanks for sharing :)

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  15. **love** this idea. Thanks for joining in the parenting pin it party

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  16. i really like this idea Liz x

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