On 28/11/2016 Mrs Murphy's class went on a day trip to Mountstewart to learn about how Christmas was celebrated in the 1950's; the post-war years.
We set off early on a big coach and travelled to Mountstewart where we began our day by having our break. Then we split up into two groups and began our tour of the house.
We went upstairs in the house to visit Lady Rose and Lady Elizabeth's rooms. Nanny showed us her bedroom, the playroom and the girls' bedroom. We saw some of their toys, the little shop they set up and some of the Christmas decorations they had made. In post-war homes many people had to make do with what little they had so we learned how the young ladies used walnut shells to make little boats. Finally Nanny read us a story, 'The Night Before Christmas' just like she does every Christmas Eve for Rose and Elizabeth. It was a beautiful pop-up book.
Our next stop was the Still Room were Cook, Mrs Harris was busy preparing the Christmas cake. We learnt about the ingredients she uses and how she saved up her rations of sugar. We also measured dried fruit using the traditional balancing scales and we saw how Baking Powder works to make the cake rise.
Then we headed back to the Education Room to make some Christmas decorations of our own. Our first job was to paint a pine cone to look like it was covered in snow and to add a few pretty ribbons. Then we made a Pop-Up Christmas card which was a brilliant m=new skill for everyone.
Our last visit was to the music room where we met the Governess. She taught us some traditional carols so we would be ready for the Estate Christmas Ball and we all had a chance to play a musical instrument such as the bells, the triangle, the drums and the wooden blocks
Finally we have a quick lunch and got back on the bus for our long journey home.
We had a brilliant day at Mountstewart; we were all very well behaved and we thank the staff there very much for a very informative and enjoyable trip.
