Chesham’s history through objects

A very popular box for students from all Key Stages that covers the 5 Bs in Chesham and can be used as a focus for the role of children in the local cottage straw plaiting industry and the Industrial Revolution.

This box contains just over 16 replica and original objects. A local expert straw plaiter has produced the different stages of the process of making a straw hat that children would have done. It also contains a pudding stone, an original Victorian blackboard from Whitehill School, Victorian washing tongs, a precious original ‘Hugmee’ teddy bear and a 1940s Chesham-made ‘Chiltern Toy Works’ to represent Chesham’s rich past in toy manufacturing.

Students are encouraged to think about the role of these objects in Chesham plus the changes that took place for children over time in the world of work and education.

If our four Victorian children’s ‘rich and poor’ bespoke costumes are not booked out they can be added free of charge to the box.

Teacher notes suggest follow on activities too.