Having addressed the issue of the very volatile politics of the time associated with the Jacobite rebellions which at times came close to toppling the Hanoverian regime, Year 8 pupils have turned their attention to the social and cultural history of the Georgian Age. This was the age of great literary figures, Swift, Pope, Goldsmith and not forgetting Dr Johnson and his famous dictionary. It was the time of the great actor-manager David Garrick and […]

History is often most interesting when it directly affects us in some way. A personal connection can often help us engage more fully with events in the past. This is evident in the two pieces included below, from two enthusiastic year 10 History Club and GCSE students. In these two fascinating pieces, Josh and Alec recount the exciting adventure stories of the lives of their great grandfather and grandfather respectively. Have a read and see […]

Let’s be honest, some of the most interesting parts of history are those that we can most relate to: What did people eat? What did they wear? What sort of houses did they live in? What kinds of jobs did they do? Year 7 have investigated what life was like for medieval people living in the countryside and next term they will look at Medieval life in the towns. How and why did towns grow? […]

Year 6 are becoming experts on the ancient world! Having completed their study of ancient Egypt, its cult of the god-king pharaoh, its farming, trade, industry and dependence on the Nile for existence, they have turned to examine the ancient Greeks and how their civilisation has impacted on our modern-day world! Already they have considered the key elements of Greek architecture and how features such as Doric and Ionic columns, friezes and entablatures can be […]

As the crowds surrounding the king’s scaffold at Whitehall disperse in anger and bewilderment, our year 8 students put quill and ink to paper and write in the king’s defence! The year is 1649 and the month January. King Charles I has been illegally condemned to death and his execution, the first and only one of a British reigning monarch, has just occurred. The king is dead, long live the king! Year 8 having examined […]

Exam boards may have released further guidance for this summer’s exams this week, but for year 11 History students, having successfully completed their historic environment question, it’s revision as usual! Students have been undertaking independent revision for prep and points tests and practice exam style questions in class, on their three History modules. Revision in earnest has begun in good time, affording our students plenty of opportunity to consolidate their knowledge in a friendly and […]

The sinking of the Lusitania was perhaps the single most controversial act of the First World War, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of helpless civilians, men, women, and children, including over one hundred neutral Americans. For many in Britain it confirmed their opinions of the autocratic regime of the Kaiser as a brutal juggernaut that had to be stopped if civilisation was to survive. The sinking certainly provided plenty of opportunity for anti-German propaganda […]

Year 9 are undertaking their own independent assignments to describe and explain the “Two faces of Victorian Britain”. This follows their in depth look at the very considerable political social cultural and economy changes that characterised the 18th century and the Georgian era/period, both at the end of year 8 and in the earlier part of this year. Drawing on their now considerable knowledge of Victorian and 19th century Britain, acquired over the last term […]

It is study as usual for year 7, after an enjoyable Christmas holiday, as they begin an in depth look at their new History topic: the Church in the Middle Ages. Having first considered the influences on our daily lives; thoughts and actions, in the twenty first century, Pupils considered the role of the church in shaping the lives of our Medieval ancestors. Why was the church so powerful? Why was it so influential? What […]

Year 11 students, including our international students, enjoy learning about one of England’s most famous and best loved monarchs, Charles II. However, was Charles’ image of the “merry monarch”, the pleasure-loving king with his many mistresses and his love of the theatre and the races, the whole story? Charles II was a complicated personality, fun loving but also shrewd and cynical. His image was often carefully calculated to project a positive image of the king […]

Why is history important? In History Club this week we discussed this very question! Student David suggested that it teaches us about things that happened in the past, so that we can learn from them and not make the same mistakes. It is also important to remember those people who have contributed so much to the way we live today, inventors, artists, writers, soldiers and sailors, and many more. Many of these people were not […]

In their last term, Year 8 students undertook an in-depth look at the Georgian age, comically referred to as the era of the “Four fat Georges”! While the first two Georges were not very prepossessing figures, being largely unable to speak English or understand much about English laws and customs, and were more concerned with spending time in Hanover, George III and his son George IV (Prinny) were rather more likeable characters. George III, nicknamed […]

Welcome to our budding new historians! This week was Year Six induction to secondary school History . . . all part of our Year Seven induction day! From Titanic coal to how the Georgians took tea, from ‘peace for our time’ to the Great Fire of London, Year Six have been unboxing our past and learning how historical sources (that’s ‘sources’, not ‘sauces’) have a story to tell! Secondary school level history can be a […]

We are grateful to pupil Joshua, who has kindly shared his great grandfather’s papers for enrolment in the first World War. As Year 9 History students consider the nature of fighting in the First World War, these papers add a very personal touch to our knowledge and understanding of this first major conflict of modern times. Joshua explains that, despite being a Yorkshireman, his relation for some reason chose to enlist in the Lincolnshire Regiment. […]

As part of their studies this term on Prehistoric Britain and the Dark Ages, Year 6 have examined the role of historical sources, and especially archaeological evidence, for historians studying periods for which we do not have many written records. This has led them to investigate the extraordinary archaeological discoveries at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, and what these finds can tell us of our early Anglo-Saxon forebears. Here are some of their excellent interpretations of […]

Fyling of the Stackyard strikes again! It is the year 1888 and a vicious killer stalks the streets of London seeking his prey! Fyling Hall’s own intrepid Year 9 sleuths are working hard to assist Inspector Fyling of the Stackyard to crack the clues and get on the trail of this dangerous assassin! History work is like detective work – it involves examining clues and analysing evidence. You have to organise your information, get the […]

Year 11, undeterred by the present difficult working conditions, have returned to their history studies with interest. They have a determination to make good progress and build successfully on their hard work and efforts last term during lockdown. For the Historic Environment component of their British Depth Study the students are investigating the construction of one of London’s most iconic buildings: Saint Paul’s Cathedral. https://www.stpauls.co.uk/SM4/Mutable/Uploads/generic_image/D95_1_1.jpg This celebrated structure, Wren’s masterpiece, was intended when constructed to […]

Fyling Hall’s Year 8 have been thinking about how their work will be of use to future historians. Inspiration from Mrs Harrington, Teacher of History In studying aspects of Charles II’s reign and examining extracts of Samuel Pepys’ diary, pupils have become more aware of the role of primary evidence in their study of history. They have also had the opportunity to create their own diary accounts of the “Great Lockdown”, accounts which will surely […]

Now is your chance to be your own Samuel Pepys! Hi, Fyling Hall Year 8s! Here’s a great opportunity for you to put some of that fantastic history learning about the reign of Charles II, the Great Plague and the Great Fire, to further use. You can also earn yourselves some commendations and even the Historian of the Month award! Be your own Samuel Pepys! Why not have a go at writing your own diary […]

The Victorian Age was a glorious, great and golden age! Perhaps it was even the beginning of the modern age we live in today. As Fyling Hall’s Year 9s found out earlier this year it was an age of great commercial and scientific progress and expansion, an age of great literary figures, architects, designers, artists and engineers. However, it had its seamier side as well! Having successfully completed their studies on Victorian Britain, Year 9 […]

My teacher is always telling us to find out more about our family history. So that is what I did. I knew that I had family ancestry at Patterdale Hall which is now used as a YMCA residential adventure learning centre. On the 6th January 2020 I wrote to them, and 7 days later a letter arrived in the post. In the letter the centre administrator had attached a lot of interesting information for me […]

Revision of a whole module’s history work can be dull! However, turning it into a quiz, with the added bonus of chocolate, (it is Christmas!) for the winners, and the gallant runners up, can make it more fun! At  the end of term, Year 10 enjoyed some good and useful revision of their first module, reflecting on how much work they had done and how far they had already come in just one term, on their G.C.S.E course, but […]

Who would have thought turnips and clover were the secret to growing population and wealth? Fyling Hall’s Year 9s are finding out why! The 18th century was a fascinating century. Most know less about it than they do the 16th, 17th and 19th centuries. The changes in agriculture, and the growth of manufacturing and trade, with new goods, foods, and fabrics, like tea, coffee, cocoa, sugar, tobacco and cotton, meant the Georgian era was a […]

Fyling Hall’s year 7 pupils were able to appreciate the idea of the “historic environment” through a visit to Whitby Abbey and museum this week. In addition to exploring “historic environment” pupils also investigated the role of Primary evidence. Pupils enjoyed delving into the many levels of Whitby Abbey’s past, from the earliest Anglo-Saxon times to the more recent dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII. What happened to the last abbot of Whitby? What […]

A visit to a Georgian town house affords opportunities for Fyling Hall’s Year 8s to undertake some historical creative writing! Imagine you are wandering through Fairfax House one spring or autumn evening, and you encounter the ghosts of Lord Fairfax and his daughter Anne! What questions would you ask them about their life and times in York, 250 years ago? All this in addition to deepening their appreciation of Georgian Britain and the role of […]

Remember Fyling Hall’s History Club’s GREAAAAAAAT History Quiz? The history hunt victors can be revealed! Congratulations to our top prize winner Minsung, who discovered the king and successfully explained why King Charles II was hiding in an Oak tree! (Well a tree anyway!) He won a bumper size bar of chocolate! That makes our forth prize winner! Congratulations also to Gracie, Gabriel and Harry in year 7 for finding the characters and successfully answering the questions! Don’t forget […]

“The past is all around us, and sharing our knowledge about it is a valuable and enlightening experience. Fyling Hall’s Year 8 certainly got the best out of the past during their visit to Fairfax House museum in York last week, and greatly enjoyed the experience. Love learning, love History, love Fairfax!Made us feel we were in Georgian times!The artefacts on show were genuine and helped us to travel back in time.They were interesting and unique.Lots […]