The legacy of Joseph Lancaster, a man who passionately advocated for the right of all children to education, remains forever imprinted in our history. Born in 1778, this education pioneer founded his first school in Southwark, London. He was driven by the idea of making education accessible to all, even the less fortunate. His education revolution would later blaze a trail in Hertfordshire when William Wilshere founded the first Lancastrian School in Hitchin, in 1810.
Fast-forward to today, where history buffs and the simply curious can wander the historic school grounds. As part of the immersive experience, visitors can trace the engaging ‘Discovery Trail’ where they’ll have the chance to step back in time, dressed as Victorian children. The school site, which currently serves as the British Schools Museum, stands as a testament to Joseph Lancaster’s educational influence especially among the underprivileged.
The British Schools Museum is not just a traditional museum. It’s an exciting journey through time, located in Hitchin in the heart of Hertfordshire, England. Inside, the atmosphere oozes a blend of Edwardian and Victorian vibes, marked by the presence of original school buildings from those eras. The museum’s complex features Grade II listed school buildings, distinguished by spaces separately allotted for infants, girls, and boys. Interestingly, the site also includes houses meant for the Master and Mistress.
The highlight of the museum is its monitorial schoolroom which is established on Joseph Lancaster’s educational principles. This massive room, accommodating up to 300 boys, was inaugurated in 1837. It boasts a rare galleried classroom, dating back to 1853.
This historical site started as a modest monitorial school in a repurposed malthouse, with space for 200 boys and 100 girls. It opened its doors in 1810, thanks to the efforts of local solicitor William Wilshere. The teaching methods adopted here were inspired by Lancaster’s monitorial system. This approach revolutionised the era’s education by enabling older scholars to teach younger ones under an adult supervisor’s guidance. In a visionary step forward in 1862, the Revised Code introduced the Pupil-Teacher method, which saw older scholars receive training to become teachers. The government hoped this would serve as an apprenticeship program to boost the country’s teacher population.
The school’s popularity skyrocketed over time, requiring the construction of a new schoolroom. Completed in 1838, this modern addition was spacious enough to accommodate 300 boys. The original school at the malthouse was repurposed into an infants’ school and a girls’ school. Then in 1854, a new Gallery classroom for 110 pupils was added, following the recommendations made by Inspectors JD Morrell and Matthew Arnold.
Just three years later, in 1857, the Girls’ and Infants’ School was due for a complete overhaul. The new building and adjoining houses for the Master and Mistress were finished in 1858, meeting with particularly high praise from Matthew Arnold upon his return visit in 1867.
By the early 1900s, the rising enrolment numbers necessitated expansions of the school. New classrooms were added in 1905 to accommodate the growth. However, by 1929, the school had become too small and perhaps a bit worn. As a result, the Boys’ and Girls’ schools relocated to the new Wilshere Dacre School in town. The Infants’ School continued in the original buildings, but the outbreak of World War II compelled the school to transform into a Junior Mixed Infants School in 1940.
During the late 20th century, the buildings started serving as the Queen Street Activities Centre under the North Hertfordshire College. Despite the closure of the school site in 1969, the buildings were preserved and were listed as Grade II in 1975 in recognition of their historical importance to school architecture. Today, visitors flock from across the country to the museum, curious to discover their ancestors’ educational experiences.
The school’s connection with Joseph Lancaster brought something extraordinary to the town when he visited in 1810. His ideas lead to the establishment of a school that enabled the impoverished children of Dead Street to gain elementary education. The school stayed operational until 1969, earning a historic legacy as the home of the Educational Revolution.
You also might be interested to learn that HitchinTV became a corporate sponsor of the museum in 2013, boosting its reputation and drawing attention to its rich history through their video production services.
HitchinTV also filmed an episode of its popular paranormal investigation series ‘Haunted Hitchin’ on site, demonstrating its social commitment. The show contributed significantly to the museum by raising £7000 for the institution. HitchinTV thus offers engaging narratives, valuable social contributions, and thought-provoking insights into invisible worlds.
