Sailing into Britain’s Past

On the annual Caterham School History trip, pupils travelled to Greenwich for a fantastic day exploring England’s past through the lens of economy and trade, providing real life examples to classroom discussions.

At the Royal Observatory, students explored how England’s growing maritime trading created an urgent need for accurate navigation, as they were able to see the tools and instruments that were specifically designed for sailors. Next, they visited the Cutty Sark, the world’s last surviving tea clipper and renowned as one of the fastest ships of her era. Here, the realities of trade were brought to life as pupils saw how vessels like these were used to discover faraway lands and establish new trading routes. Their final stop was at the National Maritime Museum which revealed a broader story of how maritime trade transformed England’s economy, from the founding of the East India Company in 1600 to the establishment of trade routes that shaped England’s economic prosperity.

Overall, the trip provided rich context for understanding how England evolved from a modest trading nation into a global commercial power, as Caterham pupils were able to visit places from their textbooks and put an image to the names.

By Chloe Elder, Upper Sixth.