By Mrs Cruse (Head of Years 7 and 8)

On Friday 15th March, Year 7 spent the day on their annual trip to the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, West Midlands. They stepped back in time to immerse themselves in an unforgettable experience, looking at what life was like during the Industrial Revolution.

The students went down a Victorian coal mine, but were relieved they did not have to enter it via the bucket in the shaft. They also went on a canal boat on the Dudley Canal, where some had a go at legging the boat through one of the tunnels.

They experienced the bustle of a Victorian street, visiting some old shops and back-to-back houses while listening to the true-life stories of families from the time. There was excitement at the forge, watching a man make chain links and a lady making nails. Despite the torrential downpours, it was a great day and we even saw a beautiful rainbow over the canal.

Kitty (Year 7) said: “I absolutely loved the Black Country Museum and found it educational but extremely fun! I also loved how the teachers got involved by going down the mine and going on the canals, no matter if they were scared of the dark; they still did it. The guides we had were incredible and told us amazing things, and I can’t wait to discover more of the years in the museum. We got to see so many things, and even though it was raining, I still had a blast and would have still had the same amount of fun in the sun.”

Hattie (Year 7) added: “I really enjoyed going back in time to see how people lived. One of my favourite parts was going into the coal mine and learning facts about how they work underground. The chemist shop was also a favourite because you could notice the differences between then and now with Vaseline and Lucozade. The tour guides told us some really interesting stories. I would love to go again.”

View photos from the trip here.