Last week, Year 13 historians went on a trip to London to visit three significant sites as well as a range of monuments in the streets, squares and gardens.
Starting with the Africa gallery in the British Museum, where students were asked to consider whether the Benin bronzes should still be in the museum, students explored a range of historical periods before moving on to Westminster Abbey. There, they were able to see the coronation chair first used by Edward I in 1272 and recently used for the coronation of Charles III. Other highlights included the shrine dedicated to St Edward the Confessor, and the tombs of Edward I and Eleanor of Castile. They then went on a walking tour of public commemorations to recent wars, individuals such as Edith Cavell and Charing Cross – a Victorian replica of Edward I’s cross dedicated to his deceased queen, Eleanor of Castile. It is from this spot that all distances to London are measured.
At the National Portrait Gallery, they studied Holbein’s cartoon drawing which turned the basis of his portrait of Henry VIII. The day ended with dinner in Chinatown.
