Although we planned a trip into town for this morning, we did not rush things so it was after eleven by the time we had driven to the Park and Ride and then taken the bus into town. (Again, we arrived just as one was ready to depart).
The main feature was to visit Shakespeare's School and Guildhall, a visitor attraction that only opened a couple of years ago. The Guildhall was originally constructed around 1420 by the Guild of the Holy Cross, an organisation that was initially founded to employ priests to says prayers on behalf of its members. Over time, the Guild gained in influence, wealth and importance and, effectively by Elizabethan times, became the town council, overseeing both justice and administration.
Shakespeare's father was not only a prominent member, rising to be the Bailiff for a year (the equivalent of Mayor today), but also fell foul of its laws on four occasions when he was fined for various misdemeanors!
In the 1560's King Edward VI School (often referred to as KES) moved into the Guildhall. At first this was the only building they had but has gradually developed as a modern school on the adjoining site, still using the old building from time to time, mostly for dramatic productions. Right from the outset the school was noted for its attention to drama and it is thought that his seven years at this school laid the foundations for the rest of Shakespeare's career.
The first part of our visit was downstairs where the original Guild gathered for prayers - a recent conservation discovered a hitherto unknown wall painting in what was the private chapel section, where the priests gathered. We watched a couple of video presentations about the Guild and the influence of the school as well as a reconstruction of how the wall painting might have looked. The original is only shown for 45 seconds as it needs to be protected from light to avoid even further deterioration. During the Reformation, instructions were given to deface the painting as being of Catholic origins - as it happened, John Shakespeare was responsible for organising this by having it whitewashed over so at least some indistinct parts remain.
Upstairs we learnt rather more in detail about the way schooling developed. A current pupil of KES introduced us to the Master's Room and also talked about some of the more famous former pupils.
This was followed by the more dramatic part of the visit - where a Schoolmaster (lat: Magister) pretended to give us a taste of life of a schoolboy in Shakespeare's time. We had to recite latin (amor, amo, amas, amamus) and also feel how rote learning and drama were considered the best basis for learning. At least none of us had to suffer the indignity of the birch!
Another part of the upper floor was set out as a later school room - Alice and Jess had the opportunity to try writing with a quill pen and ink - harder then it looks but Jess was especially pleased that she only ended up with just a dab of black on one finger.
Jess had diligently been completing a quiz as we went around and as we left she was awarded a prize, along with Alice!
We made a brief visit to the Guild Chapel next door to the Guildhall. Unlike the rooms we had been in earlier, this had a light and airy feel to it.
Time then to look for somewhere for lunch. Whilst the others would have been quite happy to return to Husskins (although in once case that was because she expected lunch to consist of a chocolate brownie!) but Mike insisted that we check out the options. We ended up in the Emporium Tea Room, part of a small antique arcade. He enjoyed his soup and the others opted for sandwiches. Although the fare was perfectly adequate, it might perhaps (to adapt a well used phrase) 'should have gone to Husskins' . . . Still, Jess was pleased to try out a smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich, a new experience having only previously had that combination on tiny crackers.
After lunch we wandered through the town centre to the market although it was not the most interesting set of stalls.Time then to catch the bus back to the car and return to the boat, stopping briefly at a supermarket for some food for tonight, in case they all wanted to eat before returning home.
As it turned out, the parents arrived just after 4 and left before 6. We later moved the boat across the marina to one of the pontoons further away from the entrance as we had been asked to do when we arrived.
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