News

Lifelong Learning at Barton

Six weeks archaeology course with Simon Tomson looking at Harversting the Sea, The Voynich Manuscript, and The British Monastic Experinece.

26 February – 2 April, Wednesdays at 1.30pm in the Joseph Wright Hall.

£12 per session (members’ discount)

Full details available from lifelonglearningatbarton@gmail.com

Posted on:21st February 2025

Festival of Britain

We’re planning a display about the Festival and the visits pupils from the Church School made to London in 1951.

If you remember those trips or have recollections or mementos of the Festival, we’d love to know.

Te. (01652) 635172 or email wilderspinschoolmuseum@gmail.com

Posted on:11th February 2025

Rainy Days Memories

Drop in anytime to our latest Winter Warmer between 11 and 3 share your memories of wet playtimes and rainy days indoors as a child.

Free entry

History Underfoot archaeology taster for kids this half term. 45 minutes sessions at 11.15am & 1pm. £2

Church School tours (45 minutes) at 11am and 1.30pm. Tel (01652) 635172 to book. £5

Posted on:10th February 2025

Barton Church School and its Wilderspin Story

One hour guided tour with refreshments to follow and a year’s free readmission for just £5 per person.

Find out why this is “one of the most important schools in England”.

Sunday 2 March 11am & 1.30pm

Telephone (01652) 635172 to book.

Posted on:24th January 2025
Posted on:1st December 2024

The Night Before Christmas

11am – 3pm

Free admission with refreshments

Christmas Quiz

Children’s activities

Museum tours at 11am and 1.30pm (£5 or FREE with Annual Ticket) – booking not required

Back to School talk (Elizabethan Trade) at 1.30pm (£4) – booking not required

Posted on:1st December 2024

New Classroom Curiosities Tour

Discover the fascinating stories behind our historic classrooms spanning 150 years as told by our period teachers

Solve our mystery objects challenge as you explore the school

Reminisce in our Chatty Café at the end of this unique tour and rekindle memories of your own schooldays stories

This is our new “experience” tour, lasting ninety minutes, and ending with reminiscence and refreshments. 

Our teachers from the past will welcome you to their classrooms and share the School’s stories starting in 1845 when Queen Victoria was at the beginning of her long reign, and Mr. Wilderspin was at the end of his illustrious career.  Here in Barton he seized the opportunity to create the country’s first Model Infant School based on his System which was adopted internationally.

Our teacher-guides will escort you through time, experiencing the strictness of the Victorian National School, the hardships of wartime in the 1940s Classroom, and the liberation and enjoyment of the post war classrooms.

Along the way there are mystery objects to test you – and a puzzle or two to solve.

The tour is designed for adults visiting independently or with friends, partners or family – with a limited number of places on each tour – so, by the end, you’ll have got to know everyone in your “class”.

It’s a fun corporate experience too.

There’s a chance to add your own childhood stories to our memory blackboard and enjoy a well-earned cup of tea or coffee with cake or scones – while poring over more mementoes from our Store.     

The price is £10 per person, including refreshments at the end of the tour.  (Children £5)

Posted on:29th November 2024

A great Wartime Schooldays visit from Plover Primary School, Doncaster

We thoroughly enjoyed welcoming Y3 & Y4 pupils from Plover to learn about a child’s war on 3 & 4 September. The pictures on their https://ploverschool.co.uk/ website say it all!

Posted on:4th September 2024

FREE admission and Open Sundays

Admission to the Museum is FREE during the Heritage Open Days festival 6 – 15 September, and our opening hours expanded to include both Sundays so we’ll be open 11am – 3pm on Thursday 5 – SUNDAY 8, and Thursday 12 – SUNDAY 15 September with FREE guided tours on Sunday 15 at 11am and 1.30.

Posted on:31st August 2024
Posted on:19th August 2024