Launceston Primary pupils visit Lanhydrock House on history trip

What kept food colder than a modern fridge in the 1800s? Pupils from Launceston Primary School found out for themselves on a recent trip to Lanhydrock House, where Victorian engineering and country house life left them full of questions.

A step back in time

The children, from the Athena Learning Trust school, spent the day exploring the historic property and learning how homes have changed over the centuries. Staff on site walked them through the lives of the Agar-Robartes family who once lived there, along with the kitchen maids whose work kept the household running.

Cold stores, fireplaces and a rocking horse called Punch

One of the standout discoveries was the huge cold store, kept colder than a modern fridge thanks to spring water flowing through specially built channels. The grand fireplaces also caught the children’s attention, used not only to heat the rooms but to cook food too.

Up in the nursery, pupils heard how Victorian children who lived at Lanhydrock would read The Jungle Book, and they had a go on the famous rocking horse, Punch.

The day also included time in the park surrounding the house before the children headed back to school.

Two sides of Victorian life

Lanhydrock has its own dramatic backstory. After a devastating fire in 1881, the Jacobean house was carefully refurbished in a high-Victorian style, mixing the finest country house design with the latest modern conveniences of the period.

The property gives visitors a clear look at both sides of Victorian living. The kitchen areas offer a glimpse of life “below stairs”, while the family rooms, dining spaces and bedrooms upstairs show how the wealthy lived in comfort and refinement.

What the school said

Kate Eyre, Principal at Launceston Primary School, said: “This was a truly enriching experience for our pupils, bringing their learning about history to life in a way that simply cannot be replicated in the classroom. The children were fascinated by the contrasts between ‘upstairs’ and ‘below stairs’ life and were full of curiosity throughout the visit. Opportunities like this help to deepen understanding, spark imagination, and create lasting memories for our pupils.”