Harold Hill History Exhibition

Pupils at Drapers’ Pyrgo Priory have been taking a fascinating journey through the history of their local area, exploring how Harold Hill and the surrounding community have changed over time.

Year 6 pupils took visitors on a multimedia walking tour of Harold Hill, bringing local sights and stories to life. Year 1 pupils also became Harold Hill Tour Guides, introducing visitors to some of the area’s landmarks, including their school.

Our younger pupils explored the natural world around them too. Reception created beautiful Monet-inspired water lilies based on the Lily Pond at The Manor, along with paper-sculpture bluebells representing the ancient bluebell woodland. Year 1 pupils created colourful Oh Deer! artwork inspired by the fallow deer found locally, while Nursery pupils hopped aboard the 174 bus route to discover more about local transport.

The children also explored how Harold Hill and Harold Wood have changed over the years. Year 2 became history detectives, looking at local buildings and comparing how they have changed during living memory. Year 5 travelled back to the time after the Blitz to discover how Harold Hill was built, learning how the area grew from destruction into the community we know today.

Year 3 pupils discovered more about the history of The Manor, exploring the ruins of the old Manor House and finding out what life was like for the servants who once worked there. They were also lucky enough to hear from local historian Don Tait, author of Harold Hill and Noak Hill -  A History. Another Year 3 project introduced pupils to the famous diarist Samuel Pepys and his visit to The Manor in 1665.

Year 4 travelled even further back in time with Who is Harold?, creating their own Bayeux Tapestry to tell the story of King Harold II, the Battle of Hastings and William the Conqueror.

Together, the projects created a fantastic journey through the history of the local area, helping pupils discover the stories, people and places that have shaped the community around Drapers' Pyrgo Priory.