Museum made an ideal centenary classroom

Thirty children from St Peter’s School, Budleigh Salterton, came to Fairlynch Museum on 19 June to see how life had changed over the last 100 years.

The school has been celebrating its centenary during 2013 and pupils from Year 4 were investigating in small groups how and why changes have taken place in areas as diverse as fashion, transport and employment.

 

They came with clipboards and lots of enthusiasm.

Lace-making was an important local industry and the children enjoyed learning about the different types of lace.

In the Costume Room they were interested to meet Phoenix, the rocking-horse presented to Fairlynch Museum after a fire broke out at his former home in St Peter's School.

In the Local History Room the children learnt about the Museum's archive collection of documents relating to so many aspects of life in Budleigh Salterton and the Lower Otter Valley over the centuries.

There was much to see in the Environment Room.

Especially the collection of pebbles and fossils.

 The history of Budleigh Salterton's railway is an important part of the Museum's collection.

“It was a really successful visit,” said teacher Elizabeth Stubbs who was accompanied by seven adult supervisors. “Each group has found something of real interest. We thought that with the Museum being so small the children would be in and out in no time but they all kept wanting to go back to the different rooms to gather information.  They really loved it.”