We are now fully booked for our learning sessions at Rutland County Museum and Oakham Castle until the end of October 2023. We are taking bookings from 7 November 2023 onwards. Please note that our 2 hour sessions have increased to £3 per pupil.

Please email Emma Warren (Heritage and Learning Officer) at ewarren@rutland.gov.uk

Workshops are usually delivered on days when the Museum/Castle are closed to the public (Tuesdays at the Castle and Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Museum).
There is a minimum booking charge of £25.

The following workshop sessions are available:
Rutland County Museum:
A Seaside Holiday
Explore the traditional seaside holiday and how it has changed. Discover how holiday makers travelled to the seaside in the past, what they wore, what they did once they were there and the types of souvenirs they took back home. Children will be able to design seaside posters as well as make souvenirs and Punch and Judy theatres and puppets.
Available throughout May, June, July and September
Duration 2 hours
£3 per child
Early Years / Key Stage 1
History: Changes within living memory and beyond living memory; understanding some of the ways in which we find out about the past.

Christmas is Coming!
Get festive and explore how Christmas was celebrated in the past! Children will be able to make a Tudor style pomander as well as a Victorian Christmas card and traditional toy. There will also be a Christmas Hunt around the museum.
Available throughout November and December
Duration 2 hours
£3 per child
Early Years / Key Stage 1
History: Changes within living memory and beyond living memory; understanding some of the ways in which we find out about the past.

It’s All in a Hard Day’s Work!
What was life like before electricity and mechanisation? Using objects, photographs and documents, children will examine what farm work, homes and schools were like in Victorian Rutland. There will also have the chance to role-play a Victorian wash day complete with mangle as well as make a Victorian toy.
Available throughout the year
Duration 2 hours
£3 per child
This session can be adapted for Early Years, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
History: Changes within living memory and beyond living memory; understanding some of the ways in which we find out about the past
History: Study of a theme in British History; changes in Social History.

Stone Age to Bronze Age: Prehistory Made Easy!
What was life like in Prehistoric Rutland? This session provides an introduction to archaeology and the chronology of the Prehistoric period. Children will examine and handle artefacts from the Stone and Bronze Ages in order to investigate the lifestyles of our early ancestors.
Available throughout the year
Duration 2 hours
£3 per child
Key Stage 2
History: Stone Age to Iron Age.

The Romans in Rutland
Discover the impact the Romans had on this area and what artefacts have been left behind. Children will have the chance to handle and examine a range of real objects such as pottery, jewellery, coins and mosaic fragments. The workshop includes a Roman gallery trail and craft based activities.
Available throughout the year
Duration 2 hours
£3 per child
Key Stage 2
History: Invasion and civilisation, life in Roman Britain, and what the Romans did for us.

World War Two: Life on the Home Front
Come along to the museum and prepare for war! Children will make their own gas mask and identity card, learn about rationing and live through a mock air raid. They will also explore some of the key roles on the home front including the ARP and Land Army.
Available throughout the year
Duration 2 hours
£3 per child
Key Stage 2
History: Study of a theme in British History; a significant turning point in British History.

Rutland County Museum & Oakham Castle:
It’s Criminal! Crime and Punishment through Time
This full day workshop takes place across our two historic sites. The session uses the collections of Rutland County Museum (including the only surviving New Drop Gallows in the United Kingdom!) to examine historical punishments and how the penal system has changed. The focus is on specific local Rutland cases and characters from the 1700s and 1800s.
At Oakham Castle, children will discover what a courtroom is, how it is used and take part in a mini mock trial.
Available throughout the year
Duration 4 hours including time for a lunch break
£5 per child
Key Stage 2
History: Study of a theme in British History; changes in crime and punishment
History: Local History Study; study of a site that is significant in the locality.

Oakham Castle:
Castles, Courts and Coronets: An Introduction to Oakham Castle
An introduction to this key local site. What is a castle? Why is this site called a castle? Discover its history, features and origins of the horseshoe tradition. Children will be able to undertake a range of hands-on activities including making their own unique horseshoe and pomander bag to take home.
Available throughout the year
Duration 2 hours
£3 per child
This session can be adapted for Early Years, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
History: Local History Study; study of a site that is significant in the locality.

Remembrance: The First World War
The focus of this session is the memorial to the men of the Leicestershire Yeomanry who lost their lives during the First World War which is on the East Wall of the Great Hall. A large selection of original and replica artefacts are also provided for handling as well as uniform for dressing-up. Children will explore how the First World War impacted on the people of Rutland, research individual soldiers and design a remembrance poster.
Available throughout the year
Duration 2 hours
£3 per child
Key Stage 2
History: Study of a theme in British History; a significant turning point in British History
History: Local History Study; study of a site that is significant in the locality.

Please click on leaflet image for a full printable version of our learning programme.