The pupils of Year 4 experienced a truly glorious event last Wednesday in the company of Gloriana, a Tudor re-enactment company, who transported us back to an era of doublets and ruffs, long-bows and cross-bows, stately masked balls and strange-looking Plague doctors.
The focus of the day was on a famous picture, now in the National Gallery, of Sir Henry Unton, an Elizabethan nobleman, who lived in the 16th century. He was brought to life, along with his wife, Lady Dorothy, and two servants, thanks to Blue Coat volunteers, who donned beautiful Tudor costumes in order to act out scenes from the painting.
Under the expert tutelage of Lady Julia, Master Saab and the Wise Woman, Mistress Pamela, we learned about the different stages of Sir Henry’s eventful life, from his birth in Faringdon to his untimely death in France, as depicted in this memorial portrait.
We danced a stately Pavan, complete with masks, at his party, listened to the musicians’ instruments, compared weapons and armour, and learned about the superstitions that surrounded illness and death.
Questions from the children were fired at our experts with more speed than the fleetest of arrows! There was so much to ask and so much to learn.
The photographs attached not only illustrate some aspects of the day but have also captured the enjoyment of the children as they participated in another Living History Day at Blue Coat.
MISS MERRILL
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