Caption: Relive the past
The aim of this visit is to gain historical perspective in the context of a local history study or an aspect of British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge. It provides an opportunity for children to experience and empathise with evacuation and the Home Front. Children will make use of a range of artefacts at both Bury Transport Museum and Bury Art Museum to enhance their learning. They will also experience a journey as an evacuee on a steam-hauled train (please note that the East Lancashire Railway reserves the right to change to a diesel service on short notice).
Key Stage
This programme is suitable for Key Stage 2.
Dates
Wed, Thursday and Friday in April, May, June and September
Costs and booking information
| Train Ticket Type |
Cost per pupil |
Booking Information |
| Single ticket |
£8.50 |
Email admin@eastlancsrailway.org.uk |
| Return ticket |
£10.50 |
Email admin@eastlancsrailway.org.uk |
Pre- booking is essential. Money is payable on the day of travel for number of pupils attending, receipt given. No deposit is required, and there is no charge for accompanying staff.
Activities and Organisation
Both groups will spend one session at Bury Transport Museum and the other at Bury Art Museum and then change places after lunch. All pupils will ride on the train at the same time. Please note that the train ride will be at the end of the day. Schools having to depart early now have the opportunity to meet their transport at Rawtenstall after the billeting exercise.
Bury Transport Museum and Bury Art Museum are a few minutes’ walk apart, with safe crossing points.
Trip Timetable
10:00am: arrival and introduction at Bolton Street Station
10:20am – 11:20am: Session 1
11:20am – 11:50am: Toilet, snack and transfer time
11:50am – 12:50pm: Session 2
13:05pm – 14:23pm: Train ride and lunch, billeting exercise at Rawtenstall before departure.
What’s Included
At Bury Transport Museum the children will work in small groups, with each group completing 2 or 3 activities per learning session. Please note that there are up to 5 activities, so the children will have different learning experiences and some follow-up time at school may be necessary so that groups can feed back to each other.
Activities include:
- What’s in my pockets? – Looking at the contents of a fictional evacuee boy’s pockets, using them to explore how children played and comparing them to what we carry today.
- Studying artefacts – Hands on examination and discussion of genuine period items.
- Evacuee suitcase – Identifying types of clothing that evacuee children would be familiar with and the amount they were allowed to take with them.
- Air raid! – Looking at how a family would have coped in an air raid shelter and how they made their time more comfortable.
- Money – examining and identifying period coins, then trying to make up amounts and possibly give change.
The session at Bury Art Museum will be centred around handling museum objects from the Second World War period. Pupils will have the opportunity to examine the objects first hand and will be encouraged to think about the people they belonged to and the context in which they were used.
What to bring
- Children may bring a snack to eat at “break” time, we can provide water. All members of the party will need to bring a packed lunch and drink to consume on the train.
- Waterproof coat – A small number of umbrellas are available for use if needed.
- Warm cardigan
It’s great if you can come in costume, to go with your labels and gas mask.