Day 1

Despite the coach arriving at the departure time! We got everyone’s luggage on to the coach and by 10:45am, parents were shedding tears, others were cheering and the 53 excited children waved frantically as we pull off on our journey to Hooke Court. It was a hive of activity on the coach, with many excited thoughts running through the children’s minds. 

We knew we were getting close as the roads began to narrow and single lane, high banked roads became the norm for the coach to navigate.  But with great skill the driver delivered us at 11:45 to the coach park of Hooke Court!

We were greeted with the manor house welcoming us, rooms ready to house our many suitcases and sleeping bags and a common room waiting to be brought to life!

So the first most important activity had to happen first – lunch!  Only one lunch missing so it was a good start and everyone got fed. After lunch and a run about, it was time to un-pack the suitcases.  It was like a Boxing Day sale at Next! The cases were unzipped and clothes cannonballed out! Once we had found washbags for the bathrooms, sleeping bags and PJs for the bed and zipped the rest back in to the cases it was time to start our first activities. 

For the afternoon we split into two groups. Each group did both activities across the afternoon with a biscuit snack break in the middle.

Orienteering  - Around the site are red squares with numbers and two letters (one on top of the other,) the children were given a series of numbers that they had to find and collect either a top or bottom letter. Using these letters, the children answered clues and reordered the letters to give an answer. Once completed they ran back to Miss Paull – the master of all challenges – to receive their next clue.   The children burnt lots of energy running around the site and solving the clues. Sone even managed 10 in an hour!

Low Ropes – this course set up in the woods, allowed the children to use teamwork and resilience to overcome the physical challenges this activity presented. Working in threes – one climber and two “spotters” (supporters) the children attacked the course and successfully managed to complete mange stages.  There were some stages that were really challenging. This didn’t stop our children from having a great attempt.  It was brilliant having the spotty spotters – in their spotty fleeces and seeing the children supporting one another. The sheer pride they shared when they completed it was priceless.

A great afternoon all round, with only a few spots of rain here and there.  Next it was free time and getting ready for dinner.

We had pasta and tomato sauce, salad and garlic bread followed by ice-cream in a cone! – many happy faces!!

This evening we faced even more challenges.  First using three pieces of paper - who could make the tallest tower, and then the great Egg Challenge!  The children, in small groups, had to work together to make a “nest” that would stop an egg cracking as it went through the Eggcecutioner!!!  We are proud to say that 5 teams managed to cushion their egg’s drop and keep it eggtact!! This is a record for the whole time WPS has visited Hooke Court! Come on Team 2025!

Now sitting on the floor in the corridor at 10:10pm we await the final hard core non-sleepers to drift off – and pray they have enough sleep ready for the full on Saxon Day tomorrow!!!

A great day – enjoyed by all.   Night Night!

Day 2: -

So why is it – the last room to sleep are the first to rise!! 11pm sleep and at 5:30am voices were heard! It was going to be a long day for some!

When a more reasonable time of 6:30am arrived the rest of the rooms started to stir. Everyone formally woken at 7am and breakfast was the first event of the day. Cereal followed by beans on toast or toast and jam. After as many rounds as they liked, we left the dining room and had a play session outside to stretch our legs before we were to travel back in time!

As time was of the essence, Miss Paull’s efficient running of the day meant we were 15 minutes early for our activity – which allowed us to go exploring Hooke Court’s beautiful ground in the sunny morning weather, following a hauling night of wind and rain!  The glorious sun shone down as we found the boating lake, football field, wood area, mud run assault course and the friendly chickens!

Then we met Simon and Liz who were to look after us today and take us on our journey back in time to when the Saxon’s occupied these parts.  Entering the long house was magical with the dark room, candles flickering and authentic replicas of decorations and artefacts for us to enjoy.  

First, we learnt about Runes and the alphabet that they used. Resulting in us making a tile for a pendant with our initials on.

Second was just gross!!! Discussing how houses were built, Simon told us about Wattle and Daub! Did you know it was made of mud and poo!!! Horse Poo to be exact!!!  So for every two towels of mud we added a trowel of Poo with a loud “OOOOH” for good measure. (No panic it was completely composted and a couple of years old – not even any good for the roses! Then we mixed it with water and WITH OUR HANDS filled the gaps in the woven branches (the wattle,) whilst half of a group took on the daub the others learnt how to weave the beech branches back and forth through the wooden stakes and created our own wattled walls!  We enjoyed this section far more!

Whilst one group did this, the other made a feast! With 5 items to make there was little hanging around!  The log fire was burning, the stewing pot was on and the “potage” (Vegetable stew) was boiling away all morning.  Our task was to make savoury bread, with onion, leek, rosemary, parsley and thyme in; a sweet bread with dates, honey and apple; some oatcakes with honey and cinnamon, and finally caldron snakes! – beef, onion, rosemary, parsley, thyme sausages.  We learnt how to combine the ingredients, how they would be cooked on the fire and then left to have a break.  In this time the food was cooked and  we came back we found ourselves sitting around the campfire, eating it all!! Yummy!

Once we had sampled that lunch, we had our own lunch, returning to civilisation as we know it.  Sandwiches, fruit, biscuits and yoghurts filled us up ready for an afternoon back at the long house.

Despite the rain we made it back and had an afternoon looking at their clothing and hierarchy. We learnt how they cleaned, teased out and spun their wool. Did you know sheep’s wool has lots of Lanolin which is a natural waterproof oil the wool possesses.  As your child how you get it out of the wool!!!!

We learnt that the Saxons spun their wool in to yarn and then wove it in to beautiful cloths that kept them warm and safe. So, we turned our hands to weaving and made small pieces of fabric that we will bring back to school. 

Whilst half wove the others took wire and made jewellery necklaces ready for our Rune pendant. Taking three strands of copper wire, we plaited them together and made a loop and hook ready to hang our rune, once dry.

As we created a Saxon wardrobe we could heard the rain pounding on the roof.  But the gods of Woden were looking down as we prepared to go to war!  Collecting our shields, we stood on the hallowed ground and jeered and tried to outwit our opposing army.  Using Saxons round shields, connecting then together in a line and stepping forward as we shouted “Ooutt!” gave us the sensation of just how fearsome the Armies had been. Our armies advanced. As they met face to face, a war of strength started. One army trying to push through the other’s wall.

Honestly it has been the best day!  The children have listened so well, entered into every activity and supported their peers incredibly well.

Evening Dinner was sausages with Roast Dinner accompaniments – ie Yorkshires, roasties and veg – followed by chocolate chip, chocolate sponge with chocolate custard. So full we couldn’t move!

Finally, as our late night the night before was starting to catch up with us!!! We began building lighthouses with electrical circuits, working in teams of 3 or 4 we divided the roles, took turns in assembling all the electrical components and created a masterpiece of a model. Ready to warn any ships off the coast of Wincanton! 

At the bedtime story this evening there were many sleepy faces and after a quick goodnight most rooms were sound asleep in minutes!

Tomorrow we have even more challenges to face – namely packing our own clothing in to our own suitcase again, stripping the bed and carrying our cases to the collection point – all before 9:30am! If you find an item of clothing that does not belong to your child, please can you wash it and have your child bring it in to school after half-term and we will return it to the rightful owner – thank you.

Parents honestly - thank you - you should be so very proud of how the children have worked today and the resilience they have shown in their activities. Their sticky knowledge and the historical comparisons they were making were fantastic and blew Simon and Liz away! Such a great and proud moment for us all!

We can’t wait to be home tomorrow and see you all. For the last time – Night night!

Hooke Court 2025😊