History Archives - Penwortham Girls' High School

Historical Fiction Review

Posted on May 22, 2023May 22, 2023 by Michelle Murray

The History Department has a wide range of historical fiction available in our History Library. Many students take advantage of this and enjoy stories set as far back as Anglo-Saxon England or borrow books depicting life in more recent eras such as 20th century Cuba.

We always welcome feedback on the books we have on our shelves. The following is a fantastic review of the book ‘After the War: From Auschwitz to Ambleside’ by Emily G in Year 8.

“After the War: From Auschwitz to Ambleside” by Tom Palmer is a compelling and insightful book that looks at the aftermath of World War II and the experiences of those who were affected by the war. The story follows the journey of a young boy named Yanek, who is a survivor of Auschwitz, as he tries to come to terms with his past and adjust to life in England after the war.

The way it is written is both informative and emotional, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of the war on individuals and communities.

One of my favourite parts of the book is its in depth look into Yanek’s struggles as a survivor of Auschwitz. Tom does an excellent job of depicting the trauma and psychological scars that Yanek carries with him as well as the challenges he faces in adjusting to life in a new country. Through Yanek’s point of view, I gained a greater appreciation for resilience, strength and spirit.

The book also looks at things such as the importance of family and community, the power of forgiveness and the need for hope in the face of a new situation. These things are explored in a thoughtful way, giving a deeper understanding of these issues.

Overall, “After the War: From Auschwitz to Ambleside” is a powerful and though-provoking book that genuinely made me think how privileged I, and the people around me, truly are. It is a real show of the human capacity for resilience and hope and a reminder of the importance of understanding and learning from the past.”

Mr Bretherton

History Department

Holocaust Workshop

Posted on May 22, 2023 by Michelle Murray

On Tuesday, 28th March, forty Year 9 students travelled to the University of Huddersfield and attended a workshop at Holocaust Centre North.

Year 9 had been studying the Holocaust over previous weeks, discussing why and how the Holocaust happened. The University’s workshop gave us the opportunity to deepen our understanding and engage with some new and challenging ideas. During the morning session, Year 9 considered the impact of anti-Semitic propaganda in Nazi Germany. We also spent time discussing the objects and displays in the exhibition. After lunch, we attended a workshop which looked at the impact the Holocaust has had on post-war human rights legislation.

University staff were keen to state afterwards just how impressed they were with our students. Their depth of understanding, knowledge and sensitivity was clear throughout the day. Mr Herbert, Mrs Lucas and myself were exceptionally proud of Year 9 and the manner in which they represented our school.

Mr Bretherton

History Department

Year 7 History Model Competition

Posted on April 24, 2023April 24, 2023 by Michelle Murray

During last term’s STEM festival, students in year 7 were invited to take part in the History Department’s ‘Model History’ competition. There were many really impressive models submitted including Viking longboats, medieval swords, castles, a WW1 trench, a 1969 NASA rocket launch and even a replica French Revolution era guillotine! Well done to all students who took part. The winning entries came from:

Laila B and Nick H – a truly impressive model of Elizabeth I.

Lilah C – An amazing French Revolution era guillotine.

Jenya Z – A superb medieval castle.

Ruby M – A Viking shield complete with runes.

As well as being invited to the ‘Head’s Breakfast’, the winners will receive a selection of history related prizes.

Mr Herbert

Curriculum Leader for History

Helmshore Textile Museum

Posted on March 20, 2023March 20, 2023 by Michelle Murray

Over two days during the STEM Festival, Year 8 students went on a visit to Helmshore Textile Museum in East Lancashire, organised by the History Department. The visit was timed to coincide with the STEM Festival, highlighting the scientific and technological innovations in textiles manufacture that took place here in the North West around two centuries ago. The weather was perfect for it; damp and cold, yet bright and sunny. On arrival we were met by our enthusiastic and friendly guides for the day, one of whom was a lovely medical support dog called Cerebus, though admittedly its owner did all the talking!

The students were split into four groups and went off to take part in series of hands-on activities. They learned how the town of Helmshore gradually developed from a few scattered cottages where the spinners and weavers lived and worked; turning the wool from the local sheep into a high quality woollen cloth, through to the move into a purpose-built mill complex that eventually centred on cotton cloth production. Incidentally, the process of turning wool into cloth is both fascinatingly complex and rather disgusting, involving a lot of human urine (erm, we’ll stop there).

A short walking tour introduced students to the quaint little town of Helmshore, where you can still see the church, old pub, shop and mill workers’ cottages, all built by the mill-owning Turner family. The students were shocked to learn that the workers were paid wages in the form of special tokens that they could only spend in the mill owner’s shop, buying goods at inflated prices and of course, adding to Mr Turner’s profits. Unsurprisingly, it was this practice, common across the North West, that would eventually give birth to the Cooperative movement, where local food producers and shop owners cooperated to ensure that goods were produced and sold at fair prices to the workers. Something to reflect on the next time you pop into your local Co-op!

The undoubted highlight of the visit to the mill is seeing, hearing and feeling the old machines in action. Helmshore is blessed with some of the finest examples of Industrial Revolution-era textile machinery in the world, including a full floor of Spinning Mules that can spin miles of cotton thread per minute. I saw open-mouthed students look on, a little nervously at first, as the mechanical monsters clanked and groaned into life, making the floor shake as they rumbled back and forth. It’s a barrage upon the senses that never fails to impress, and one that won’t be quickly forgotten by the students.

I want to thank all the staff who accompanied on me on the visit, as well as the office staff who helped me to organise it, and finally to the students themselves. They were a credit to PGHS and were commended by the museum staff for their good manners and genuine curiosity.

Mr Ramsdale

Senior Assistant Headteacher

Second World War

Posted on January 30, 2023January 30, 2023 by Michelle Murray

Year 9 have spent the last few months studying the significance of the Second World War. It has been a fascinating topic where students have considered the historical significance of such events as the Blitz, Operation Barbarossa, Hiroshima and the Potsdam Conference. We have discussed the different criteria historians use to determine the significance of events whilst deepening our understanding of the events of 1939-1945. The end of unit knowledge check saw students across Year 9 displaying an impressive understanding of the era along with fantastic disciplinary knowledge.

Head’s Commendations were given to Ruby R, Hattie C, Lucy H and Eden F for the inference skills on show when analysing a Second World War poster. Well done!

Mr Bretherton,

Teacher of History

Year 7 Cross Curricular Work – English and History

Posted on January 30, 2023January 30, 2023 by Michelle Murray

As part of a cross-curricular project last term, students in year 7 studied the Anglo-Saxon myth Beowulf in both their English and history lessons. In English students learnt the story of Beowulf and how the Anglo-Saxon Old English differs from modern English. In history, students learnt how historians use myths to make inferences about their authors. For example, students learnt about the importance of Hereot, the mead hall in Anglo-Saxon society and attitudes towards warriors and heroes. The students enjoyed learning a crucial story in English history and produced some excellent work in the process.

Mr Herbert

Curriculum Leader for History

Holocaust Memorial Week

Posted on January 30, 2023January 30, 2023 by Michelle Murray

Holocaust education is an important feature of the PGHS history curriculum. Year 9 students study the causes and consequences of the Nazi persecution of Jews between 1933-1945 and the Year 11 students study the holocaust in depth as part of their GCSE studies. The theme of all year group assemblies last week was the Holocaust and all year 10 and 11 students had the privilege of attending a presentation and Q&A with Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines MBE, a holocaust survivor who was part of the Kindertransport in 1939. Lady Milena’s presentation was engaging and delivered with great dignity. The students were captivated by her personal story and how her experience fitted within the context of the Holocaust.

If you would like to find out more about Lady Grenfell-Baines’s experiences, follow the link:https://www.memoryofnations.eu/en/grenfell-baines-milena-1929

Mr Herbert

Curriculum Leader for History

Important Historical Anniversaries in December

Posted on November 28, 2022November 28, 2022 by Michelle Murray

1st December: Rosa Parks arrested for refusing to give up her seat on the bus in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955 Rosa Parks: Bus Boycott, Civil Rights & Facts – HISTORY

6th December: 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, abolishes slavery in 1865. 13th Amendment – Abolition of Slavery | Constitution Center

9th December: Genocide Convention signed by the UN in 1948 United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect

16th December: Boston Tea Party, 1773 Coming of the American Revolution: Boston Tea Party (masshist.org)

18th December: 100 year anniversary of the Irish Free State Irish Free State declared – HISTORY

27th December: 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Pasteur Louis Pasteur | Science History Institute

30th December: 100th anniversary of the formation of the USSR Soviet Union – Countries, Cold War & Collapse | HISTORY – HISTORY

First World War Knife

Posted on November 28, 2022 by Michelle Murray

Last year, Caitlin’s research of her ancestor, Joseph Anderson MacPheat, who fought in the First World War, led to the unlikely discovery of his war knife in the north of Scotland. This was after Muriel Murray from the Castletown Heritage Society stumbled on her PGHS newsletter article from last November. Mr Dever has spent a considerable number of hours researching and documenting the story of the war knife, and has now interviewed all of the people involved, which included a visit to Castletown – a 9 hour drive from his home! You can read and hear the full extraordinary story here: https://matthewdever.co/a-war-knife

Mr Herbert

Curriculum Leader for History

St Mary’s Church War Graves

Posted on November 24, 2022November 24, 2022 by Michelle Murray

Last Friday six of our students visited St Mary’s Church in Penwortham to clean up the First and Second World War graves that had unfortunately fallen into a poor condition. Armed with buckets sponges and brushes the students demonstrated a fantastic work ethic to scrub the headstones clean despite the torrential rain! Ron Drakeford, a local veteran, had noticed the poor condition of the graves when visiting them before the Remembrance weekend, and had requested help in cleaning them. The students were eager to offer their support and were a real credit to our school. An extra thoughtful touch, Isabel Wrennall placed white roses on each of the graves as an additional mark of respect.

Mr Herbert

Curriculum Leader for History