Queen Anne's Summerhouse
Activity Project
Schools' Project
Thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery five local schools have participated in a four day cross-curricular project. The overall aim of the project was to engage children with the 300 year history of Queen Anne's Summerhouse and its setting on the Shuttleworth Estate, up to and including its restoration by the Landmark Trust.
Models of QAS made by children at Cauldwell Lower School
Between the months of March and June 2009 over 200 Key Stage 2 children from Shackleton Lower School, Cauldwell Lower School, Cotton End Lower School, Northill Lower School and Southill Lower School visited the site and enjoyed a nature walk from the village of Old Warden and through the Warren before reaching the summerhouse.
The children met Richard Aireton, Victorian gamekeeper and one-time resident of Queen Anne's Summerhouse. They had the opportunity to discover all about his life and work on the estate.
Children from Cauldwell Lower School meeting Richard Aireton, the Victorian gamekeeper
As the restoration on the summerhouse was still in progress each visiting group saw the work at a slightly different stage. Children had a go at brick rubbing using a professional rubbing stone and documented the sights and sounds in preparation for the creative activities back in the classroom.
The children enjoyed discovering more about the woodland, hunting for mini-beasts, looking for evidence of animal activity, bark rubbing and recording impressions of the landscape around them.
Fine weather allowed a picnic outside and the visit ended with a quick tour of the Shuttleworth Collection and Swiss Garden.
The site visit was followed by 3 days of activities back in the classroom. A writer and drama practitioner further explored the history of the building through theatre and writing based activities. Word banks and simile sheets were created in preparation for writing diary entries and group poems.
Children from Shackleton Lower School ?building' QAS in the classroom
The art activities explored historical themes through design, and also highlighted the different jobs and roles involved in a restoration and conservation project. Some children created models that illustrated the different periods of the building's history, and explored the decorative fashions around at the time; others created a group wall hanging for the school.
A book featuring a collection of images and writing has been presented to each participating child. Please use the link below to view the finished book as a pdf.
An exhibition at the BCA Gallery in Bedford on 9 and 10 August 2009 celebrated the creative achievements of the project so far. Work has also been exhibited during the Old Warden Village Fete and at Bedford Library.
The links to the files below are resources and worksheets used during the Schools Education Project. If you are planning a visit to Old Warden and/or The Shuttleworth Estate you might find these helpful.
Worksheets (pdf 447KB)
Schools' Book (pdf 3.88MB)
Film Projects
Six students from Bedford College made a short film about Queen Anne’s Summerhouse – recording the building in 2008 before the work began and during 2009 to capture the restoration process and the finished project. Footage from their work was incorporated in an interpretation film shown to day visitors on the wider Shuttleworth Estate.
Community Exhibitions and Talks
In November 2008, an exhibition marking the start of the restoration program was held at Old Warden Village Hall, with a talk and question and answer session to accompany it. A further talk was given by the Landmark Trust's historian, Caroline Stanford at Bedford Library in February 2009. This talk was also accompanied by an exhibition in the library café.
Part of the exhibition at Bedford Library in February 2009
Open Days
In June 2010, Queen Anne's Summerhouse was the venue for a dance theatre performance by students from the University of Bedfordshire as well as being an unusual classroom for 130 local school children.
The school children from Caudwell Lower School and Shackleton Lower School in Bedford and Laburnum Lower School in Sandy visited to take part in several activities including making textile banners for a site specific installation, inspired by and set within the surrounding woodland.
Additionally, new theatre and music was created taking as inspiration the building, its history and setting. A piece of dance theatre was specially created and performed on site by staff and students from the University of Bedfordshire's Department of Performing Arts.
Six dance students - Robyn Austin, Pavel Azamotov, Kirsty Bewers, Luke Jessop, Megan Manley and Laura Williams - were joined by two theatre students, Christopher Hodgson and Catherine McFall. Members of staff involved organiser and Senior Lecturer in Dance, James Hewison, who choreographed the dance, while Senior Lecturer in Theatre, Mike Carter, supplied the text.
James said "The weather was great and everyone had a good time. Our aim was to celebrate the history, architecture and physical setting of the house, and especially its role as a place for enjoying the great outdoors."
The performance was accompanied by musicians from University-sponsored orchestra Symphonia Academica. During the performance two new compositions by sixth form students from Luton College were also played.
In September 2010 Queen Anne's Summerhouse and Keeper’s Cottage once again welcomed visitors during Heritage Open Days. Glorious autumn weather enticed many people out during the three days and Victorian Gamekeeper Richard Aireton entertained visitors with his woodland tales, allowing a brief glimpse into his life in this beautiful woodland.
A local group of migrant families worked with the Landmark Trust’s Education Officer to create artwork from ‘found’ woodland materials and work created by school children was also on display. Musician Mary Hampton performed her exquisite blend of old and new folk songs, filling the woodland air with melody and stories.
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