Special Event - Year 4 at the Ancient High House

July 2007

Year 4 went to The Ancient High House in Stafford as part of their history experiences of the Tudor times.

The Ancient High House is one of the finest Tudor buildings in the country. Once dominating the skyline of Stafford, it is the largest remaining timber framed town house in England. Royalty was welcomed to the house in 1642 when King Charles I stayed there en route to Shrewsbury, and the house retains an extensive collection of period furniture and architectural features.

During our visit we had the chance to mint our very own half groat. We learnt how to use a hammer and the authentic coin minting apparatus. We learnt all about the coin making process and the value of money in the Tudor period.

We had fun role-playing the parts of rich and poor Tudor people. We dressed in ruffs, aprons and full costumes of the rich and poor. They showed us how food was cooked in Tudor times; and how to lay a table for a rich person and a poor person.