The Squires & Spires Project Held at Boughton House On the 7th June 2000, 10.30 am - 2.30 pm

More than 300 children from the following schools attended on this day: Denfield Park Junior School - Rushden Mears Ashby Endowed Primary School - Mears Ashby Polebrook CE Primary - Near Peterborough Ronald Tree Nursery - Kettering Wilby CE Primary School - Wilby Windmill Primary School - Raunds

Workshops They spent the day at Boughton House working in workshops provided by local building crafts people, The Living Landscape Trust and Boughton Estates Ltd. Each child was able to have a 'hands on' experience in crafts such as thatching, woodturning, iron working, dry stone walling and surveying. In all 18 varied workshops were available for the children to experience, some of which are depicted in these photos. (click for larger picture) Larger picture Larger picture Larger picture Larger picture Larger picture Larger picture Display of work A display of work produced by the children following their experiences at Boughton is being shown at Boughton House in the Coach House until September 1st, available for viewing at weekends and throughout August. Host of the day The host of the day, Gareth Fitzpatrick the Director of the Living Landscape Trust at Boughton House said "This is a unique day for schools to avail themselves of the different trade skills employed in the countryside's built heritage as exemplified on the traditional but modern run Boughton Estate. It is important that these skills are not lost to future generations as it is the people who are as much a part of our heritage as the bricks and mortar. It is truly, a 'Living Landscape'". County's Chief Education Advisor Tony Richardson, the County's Chief Education Advisor added "This day will sow the seeds of a lasting interest and foster in these primary children a new appreciation of their surroundings and with the 'hands-on' workshops experience for themselves what it is to plan, design, and build elements of the built environment. " Squires and Spires Millennium project The Open Day is part of the Squires and Spires Millennium project for Northamptonshire Schools which has been sponsored by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce, Training and Enterprise (NCCTE) and NIAS &endash; Northamptonshire County Council's Inspection and Advisory Service. It is part of a project on rural crafts, heritage and the built environment. The day has been put together to give children an appreciation of the skills and crafts involved in the Construction Industry past and present.

Top of Page

Home Page