Travelling back in time to the Crimean War

05.02.2025

Year 2 were recently transported back in time to 1854 when Florence Nightingale travelled to Turkey to nurse soldiers fighting in the Crimean War.

The girls had to assume the roles of potential recruits keen to accompany Florence to Turkey and they immersed themselves wholeheartedly in the experience. They were asked to make a selection of items which they could sell to pay for the trip and which might be useful to them in their role as nurses, for example candle holders, identity  sashes, lockets, pill boxes, medals and greeting cards. They also had to use pen and ink to write letters of application in which they outlined to to Florence which jobs they would be good at in the hospital.

The girls also had the chance to handle historical artefacts – an amazing learning opportunity! Part of the exercise was to work out the identity of the owners of various suitcases by examining the items inside.

In the afternoon girls were able to act out their roles as nurses, patients, cooks, cleaners, gardeners and laundry workers. The girls were enthusiastic historians who were curious to learn new and fascinating facts about Florence, Mary Seacole and the lives of women in Victorian times who wanted to carve out a career for themselves.

The girls thoroughly enjoyed the immersive experience and went away with a real understanding and appreciation of the role of Florence Nightingale and her nurses.