Henry VIII’s magnificent palace – Hampton Court – was the setting of Year 8’s first trip of the year.
Set amidst the autumnal trees and glimpses of October sunshine, the girls were treated to a rollercoaster ride back into the tumultuous times of the infamous Tudors. Intrigue, betrayal and deceit epitomised this most notorious era in English history. From the religious turmoil created by Henry VIII to the private lives of his six legendary queens, much was learned and discussed about this mighty monarch. Our Notre Dame girls walked in the very footsteps of these 16th Century ‘celebrities’. The grand courtyards and expansive banqueting halls were explored, with eager anticipation to maybe catch a glimpse of the reputed ghost of Henry’s fifth wife, Katherine Howard….
As Molly TN said,
‘Even though I had visited the palace before, this trip deepened my understanding around the subject. Overall I had a great time so thank you to the teachers who organised the trip.’
As well as seeing the most famous Tudor Rose emblem being adorned in the Great Hall and the imposing original paintings by Holbein in the corridors, the girls also learnt about the little-known correspondence between Elizabeth I and Sultan Murad, integrating the realm of Protestant England with the Islamic world of the Ottomans, broadening their perspectives to view the Tudors within a more global and forward-thinking society.
The day was, of course, completed by an adventure in the famous maze and magic garden, as Harriet rounded up,
‘We also went to the maze which was so fun and we managed to navigate our way out quickly. Then we went to the magic garden which brought back memories of when I was younger.’
A fabulous day was had by all.
