At the British Schools Museum in Queen Street, they have a unique set of buildings that tell the story of elementary education in Britain from 1810 until 1945. You will find a rare Lancasterian School-room which was built in 1837 for one master to teach 300 boys with the aid of 30 Monitors as advocated by Joseph Lancaster. This is the only known complete Lancasterian School-room in the UK and probably in the world and is a valuable and irreplaceable building that is awaiting restoration. Nearby is a rare Galleried Classroom built in 1853 for 110 boys, the interior of which is now restored. The site also incorporates a Girls and Infants school built in 1857 with adjacent Master’s and Mistress's houses, and a 1905 classroom block. There are exhibitions and displays, changed frequently, a cafe for tea and coffee and a Shop for souvenirs.
The museum is open to visitors for Guided Tours or the Family Trail on Tuesdays (Feb to Nov) and Saturdays and Sundays (Apr to Oct), with schools groups and other groups at other times by appointment. Tel 01462 452697 for info.