Samuel Wilderspin’s Infant Schoolroom & Playground are at the heart of our Museum and the focus of THE WILDERSPIN STORY.

It has been restored to look much as it did in 1845 – based on extensive archaeological and documentary research.

All the hallmarks of Wilderspin’s schools are here: the large schoolroom for over 150 infants, the tiered gallery, and the lesson posts.

Around the room are descriptions in Wilderspin’s own words – extracts from one of his teaching manuals which give a flavour of “where he was coming from”, and a glimpse of his personality.

The School was constructed to Wilderspin’s exacting specification – he regarded it as a Model School, where his ideas could be demonstrated and where teachers could be trained.  It came at the end of his career, so we tend to think of it as his “swansong” – the culmination of years of travelling setting up schools.