HOLDENBY HOUSE
Focus Group
Just across the fields from Althorp lies Holdenby, a house whose royal connections go back over 400 years. Built by Sir Christopher Hatton to entertain Elizabeth I, it became the Palace of James I and the prison of his son, Charles I. Now a family home, the house is a splendid backdrop to a beautiful garden and Falconry Centre, where visitors can watch magnificent birds of prey soar over the scene of so much history. Holdenby Palace was built in 1583 by Sir Christopher Hatton the much favoured 'Dancing Chancellor' of Elizabeth I who she intimately called 'her lyddes': (the Earl of Leicester being her eyes). Hatton built Holdenby, the largest house in Elizabethan England with 123 huge glass windows specifically to honour his beloved Elizabeth. Hatton himself refused to live in the house prior to the Queens first visit. After the Civil War, the Palace was sold to a Parliamentarian, who reduced the house to a single wing. A few short years after the completion of Holdenby, bankrupt and childless. The house passed to James I who used it as a place of entertainment. For his son, Charles I, it became a prison. He was held here for 5 months after his defeat in the Civil War. The King plotted to escape but Cromwell sent Cornet Joyce with 500 soldiers to remove him to safer custody and eventual execution. In 1709 it was bought by the Duke of Marlborough, since when it has descended down the female line to the Lowther family.
The Focus Group members were approached after consultation with key stakeholders. In order to aid the development at Holdenby House HERO engaged the Northamptonshire Inspectorate and Advisory Service, who helped to promote the project at conferences and events, engaging many teachers from a variety of schools. Property staff also inputted into the development of the Focus Group.
The issue of transference, particularly from Key Stage 2 to 3 was a key area of debate for the Focus Group and thus is being integrated into the work we are developing at Holdenby House. The programme in development will be flexible enough to allow for cross-phase working, particularly focusing on Primary to Secondary.
“It is important that schools have a range of strategies for dealing with difficulties around transfer and transition at all levels, to make sure that they do not lead to discomfort, disaffection or lost learning.”
DFES Primary Strategy: Excellence and Enjoyment
Chenderit School is a large visual arts college in Middleton Cheney, Northamptonshire. HERO is delighted at Chenderit’s commitment to the project. Whereas at other sites individuals or organisations have been engaged as key partners at properties, Chenderit School’s wealth of expertise has served this role. Chenderit School is home to a wide range of expertise and knowledge and an artist in residence, who, in 2003/2004 was Frances O’Neill and in 2004/2005 is Sarah Bosworth.
The Focus Group were keen to develop a flexible Visual Arts resource, enabling schools to work cross-phase and collaboratively across departments and/or schools to deliver clear learning objectives, based on the early History of Holdenby, particularly the property’s links to Charles 1st.
This project wanted to take risks regarding the pedagogic approach taken. Flexibility was a key factor, which was reflected in the cross-phase element, but also in the fact that the resource in development could be relevant to a wide range of users, particularly children/ young people studying history or art
An interactive performace tour of the property, enabling children and young people to gain an insite into the characters linked to the history of Holdenby has been developed. The project has been developed with a view to inspiring artwork, but is adaptable to link to other areas of the curriculum. Participants can use this resource to enable their learning in history, English (Story writing), Drama and Citizenship. The primary aim of the resource however is to provide a neutral environment in which primary and secondary children can enjoy each other’s company.
