Through The Eyes Of A Child

Creativity and Knowledge for Self-Guided Tours - “Through the Eyes of a Child” – An Upstairs/Downstairs Companion Guide to the Tatton Mansion

This resource booklet is designed to support and enrich self-guided visits to the Tatton Park Mansion for schools and home educating families. The content can be adapted to suit both Key Stage 1 and 2.

The booklet is presented in a diarised/simple story format, contrasting a day in the life of two fourteen-year-old girls. One, an under-maid and the other, the eldest daughter of Lord and Lady Owen; a fictional family living at Tatton Park in the early Victorian Era (1851). Throughout the story, there are references to notable events in 1851 allowing for more research, discussion and understanding of the era. The recount of activities undertaken are however, fact based following research of the Egerton family and their servants.

The booklet forms the basis of an exciting visit to Tatton Park’s Mansion, where the experiences of the girls will be brought to life when your group visits the spaces spoken about during the story. You will be able to soak up the splendour of the state rooms and the contrast of the servants’ quarters, whilst observing the changes between the two, spotting objects mentioned in the stories and taking time to contrast with homes today.The document acts as a companion guide to allow you to confidently lead a visit to Tatton Park’s Mansion and supports you in getting the most from the experience.

We recommend that the narrative is explored prior to your visit and then coming on site, you can explore the suggested spaces either in a single visit or multiple visits. If your school/group has National Trust membership, access into the Mansion is free of charge (parkland vehicle entry still applies), so we feel that this booklet represents an affordable option for a ‘tour guide in your pocket’ and allows you ultimate creative control about when and how you use the content.

The guide also contains practical information to assist with planning the visit, including our ‘Terrific Tips for Top Trips’ and preparation pages at the reverse of the booklet. We also offer a free online CPD on our TES shop that covers how to get the most from a visit to a cultural heritage venue, which you may wish to explore in conjunction with this booklet.

Once purchased, the booklet is yours to keep and use time and time again. However, to support us in being able to create more content in the future, we would ask that individual teachers/parents purchase their own booklet wherever possible.

Please also take a look at our other self-led resource booklets, which support a variety of topics and age groups. We hope to keep expanding the selection of resource booklets available, so if you have any suggestions for subject areas, please email us at: tattoneducation@cheshireeast.gov.uk