Year 2 have been enjoying learning about the history of Coopersale Hall School and discovering many hidden features they never knew existed!
Armed with their clipboards, the children were taken on a fascinating tour by Mrs. Hogarth, who pointed out details around the school that often go unnoticed. She transported them back in time to when the building was a family home—complete with servants and maids who helped run the household.
The children discovered an outdoor water pump, once used by the servants to fetch water for bathing, cooking, and drinking. In the current library, they observed the serving hatch, a remnant from the days when food was passed through from the kitchen to the dining room. On the library fireplace, they noticed a small piece of crocodile skin, which was historically used by maids to strike matches for lighting the fire.
The tour continued into the basement, where they saw the original well, and then up to the attic, accessed via the servants’ staircase, where they explored the former servants’ quarters. The children even visited the girls’ toilets, where they saw sea creature-themed fittings and fixtures, once part of the family’s main bathroom.
Throughout the tour, the children reflected on how different life was in the past compared to their own experiences today. They gained insight into how the house was originally designed to accommodate both a family and the staff who supported them.
It was a wonderful and engaging journey through history, and everyone learned something new and memorable.
