Brass Rubbing

Price £2.50
Duration 45 minutes
Recommended Key Stages 1, 2, 3

Children are shown interesting memorial brasses around the cathedral and encouraged to discuss the historical information that can be learned from the clothing, the design and the decorations of these brasses. After that, the children use traditional brass rubbing wax to make their own rubbings to take back to school. We have a large selection of brasses to chose from including a number of images of famous Tudors.

This workshop makes a good practical session for any visit to the cathedral, but particularly a Tudor themed visit.

Calligraphy

Price £2.50
Duration 45 minutes
Recommended Key Stages 2, 3

Amongst our archives we have documents with genuine signatures of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Children are able to look at copies of these and other examples of historical documents. They are introduced to the art and tools of writing in late medieval/Tudor England and they are given an opportunity to experiment for themselves, to design their own ‘Tudor’ signature, and, if time permits, to produce a longer piece of writing using calligraphy pens.

This workshop makes a good practical session for a Tudor-themed visit or for a visit to the Mappa Mundi and Chained Library Exhibition.

Cathedral Corbels

Price £2.50
Duration 1 hour
Recommended Key Stages 2, 3, 4

In this workshop children explore the outside of the cathedral looking for stone carved gargoyles, grotesques and corbels. Whenever possible they also visit our stone masons to watch them at work and learn about how they carve the stone faces and decorations. After that, the children make their own corbels out of clay.

Illuminated Letters

Price £2.50
Duration 45 minutes
Recommended Key Stages 2, 3, 4

This workshop gives children the opportunity to look at examples of unique hand decorated illuminated initials taken from some of our own 12^th century manuscripts, and to learn a little bit about the history and art of illuminating letters. They then have the opportunity to design and colour their own initials.

The workshop makes a good practical session to accompany a visit to the Mappa Mundi and Chained Library Exhibition.

Investigating the Traherne Windows

Price £2.50
Duration 45 minutes
Recommended Key Stages 1, 2, 3, 4

In this workshop children explore the Christian symbolism and imagery in the stained glass of the Audley Chapel. The glass was designed by stained glass artist Tom Denny, who took his inspiration from the works of the 17th-century poet and mystic Thomas Traherne. Some of the images of the city of Hereford itself and of the flora and fauna of the Herefordshire countryside might be known to local children. Pupils will enjoy recognising familiar landmarks, as well as interpreting the Christian message of the windows.

This workshop is particularly suitable for Key Stage 3 pupils exploring the signs and symbols of spirituality in art and architecture.

Praying with Beads

Price £2.50
Duration 45 minutes
Recommended Key Stages 1, 2, 3, 4

This workshop offers pupils a contemplative, spiritual experience. It is not specifically Christian, and we welcome both members of all religious denominations and those of no particular commitment. The workshop takes place in the crypt, in candlelight and against a background of atmospheric music. As they make their prayer bead chains, children are encouraged to think about and remember people, times, places, events and global issues that are special or important to them.

This workshop is suitable for pupils of all ages.

Stained Glass Windows

Price £2.50
Duration 45 minutes
Recommended Key Stages 1, 2, 3

The stained glass windows of Hereford Cathedral convey colourful images of many Christian stories and symbols. In this workshop children look at some of the windows and then design and colour a window of their own to suit the theme and objectives of their visit. We use different, age-appropriate materials for each Key Stage.

This workshop is very adaptable and has been enjoyed by children from 5 to 14 years old, but it makes a specially good practical session for KS1 children who have met with our puppet Hugh Hummalot.

Tudor Games

Price £2.50
Duration 45 minutes
Recommended Key Stages 2, 3

In this workshop children have the opportunity to play both simple and more complicated traditional games, dating from the late medieval and Tudor periods and made from traditional materials. They also make a Morris game of their own to take home or back to school.

This workshop is specifically designed to accompany the Tudor Trail, but it can also stand alone.

For more information about any of these workshops, please contact our education officer William Talbot-Ponsonby by email or phone 01432 374256.