Victorians loan box
What was life like for a Victorian child in Chesham?
Explore Victorian Chesham childhood through mainly original Victorian objects and our four specially made costumes (Year 6 sized). A local straw plaiting expert has also made replicas of the process of how children would make straw hats. Students investigate the differences between rich and poor Victorian children toys, education and quality of clothes.
The teacher notes cover changes over time (eg education /work /leisure and play / home/ work /food and the role of the Empire).
Suitable for Key Stage Two and Key Stage 3 national curriculum requirements. Could also be used for object handling by Key Stage One students.
Explore our digital 3D bobbin winder
These simple wooden machines, were used to wind cotton around bobbins, used in lace-making. The cotton was attached around the wheel, and the handle was turned to wind the cotton around a bobbin, attached at the other end. To find out more about lace-making visit our online collection.
Victorian child’s shoe
Child’s shoe, c.1900. This child’s clog has a simple wooden base with a leather upper, nailed into the base. Originally clogs would have been made by hand, later by machine. The shoes were practical for working in dirty and muddy conditions, including local farms. Metal rings were attached to the bottom, called clog irons. They were hard to walk in, and children had to adopt a rocking movement because they were so stiff.
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