Arts and Crafts of the Garden City

Barry Parker's 'arts & crafts' style office, in what is now the First Garden Cit
Barry Parker's 'arts & crafts' style office, in what is now the First Garden City Heritage Museum
A Letchworth Garden City 'Arts & Crafts' interior Barry Parker, one of the main architects of Letchworth Garden City

Working as a Garden City designer, pupils will learn of the arts and crafts movement which reflect many of the Garden City houses you see today. Your class will look at historic housing interiors of Letchworth Garden City, and period designers such as William Morris. Situated in the original Working Office of Barry Parker, this 15 to 20 minute workshop applies creativity to historical interpretation. SEN learning resources are also available.

Curriculum Links with this activity:

History KS1

  • 3 - Historical interpretation; 
  • 4 - Historical enquiry;
  • 6 - The way of life of people in the more distant past who lived in the local area or elsewhere in Britain.

Geography KS1

  • 5 - Identify and describe what places, compare with other places [for example, compare the local area with places elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Art and Design KS1

  • 6 - Knowledge and understanding, 5 D - investigating different kinds of art, craft and design [for example, in the locality, in original and reproduction form, during visits to museums, galleries and sites, on the internet].

Pre-visit activities -The Garden City

Prepare for your visit with supporting resources provided to you by First Garden City Heritage Museum. Introduce the ideas of the Garden City through a series of photographs from the museum’s collection. Pupils can identify the changes in poverty housing, with recognition of the living and working benefits of both town and country. A teacher’s pack is available upon request.


Post- Activities - Cheap Cottages Activity Box

Take the arts and crafts of the Garden City back to school with our new Cheap Cottage Activity Box. Pupils can re-create Letchworth’s Cheap Cottages Exhibition with a variety of fun-filled class activities. With a broad range of supporting resources, images and worksheets, pupils will experience a famous event of Letchworth’s history. This activity box with teacher’s pack is available for loan on a small, weekly charge. SEN learning resources are also available with this loan resource.