History came to life for Prep School pupils when they travelled across the Yorkshire Wolds to spend an active day at Burton Agnes Hall.

Year 3 children explored rooms inside the Elizabethan stately home, with its high ceilings, ornate furniture and impressive portraits, and heard about the fact it has stayed within the same family for more than 400 years.

Theo Bayram said: “My favourite part was inside the house because I learnt a lot about its history and what it would have been like to live there. History is my favourite subject.’

Everyone was shocked and intrigued by the story of the Hall’s ghost, Katherine Anne Griffith. She was the daughter of the man who built the Hall and loved it so much she never wanted to leave. Katherine died in 1620 but her presence can still be sensed in its rooms by the smell of violet perfume, the children heard.

Elfreda Hotham said: “I enjoyed hearing the ghost story because I enjoy creepy stories and I was fascinated.”

The children explored Burton Agnes’s beautiful gardens and grounds, from where they sketched the Hall, looking at the symmetry and features which make it such a fine example of Tudor architecture.

They also braved the very muddy woodland walk in which they were challenged to find as many wooden statues as they could, hunted creepy crawlies and admired the stunning white carpet of snowdrops across the fields.

Austin Campbell said: “I liked going in the forest and seeing all the nature and learning about how creatures live.”

One of the trickiest tasks of the day was finding the end of the maze! It was very difficult but luckily both children and teachers emerged unscathed. They also loved playing giant snakes and ladders and chess, as well as counting all the pieces of the chess board. 

Year 3 teacher Rebecca Shepherd said: “We had a fantastic day! The pupils and staff would like to thank Mr and Mrs Cunliffe-Lister and the staff at Burton Agnes Hall for welcoming them into their home and helping them learn and become more inspired about their topic and one of the Britain’s beautiful historical houses.”