Year 6 Visit London Docklands Museum
Last Friday, Year 6 embarked on a trip to the London Docklands Museum to deepen their understanding of their enquiry question, “Are All People Free?”—a theme they have been exploring in both Global and English.
After a smooth coach journey into London, the children were excited to discover that the museum itself is housed in one of the original warehouses where goods were unloaded upon ships’ return from the Americas during the Transatlantic slave trade.
Before entering the museum, they took note of several significant landmarks. First, they observed Hibbert’s Gate in Canary Wharf, an ornamental foundation stone that has become a symbol of London’s historical wealth—much of which was built on profits from the slave trade. Next, they saw West India Quay DLR station, aptly named as many of the goods arriving here came from the Caribbean, which was historically referred to by the colonial term “West Indies.”
A particular point of interest was the empty plinth, which had previously displayed a statue of Robert Milligan. The children were intrigued by its absence, as they had already learned about the removal of statues of individuals linked to the slave trade. They understood that many of these statues failed to acknowledge the experiences of the enslaved African people, who were often subjected to appalling treatment.
Once inside the museum, the children explored several fascinating exhibitions. They visited the Warehouses of the World exhibition, the Docklands at War exhibition—which connected well with their previous term’s studies on the World Wars—the Trade Expansion exhibition, and, most moving of all, the London, Sugar, and Slavery exhibition.
In this powerful exhibition, the children were given a trail to follow, guiding them to specific artifacts they were tasked with photographing for later use. This activity encouraged them to engage deeply with the history on display.
One of the thought-provoking questions the children considered was: “Why do you think there is no African perspective on display?”
As part of their learning, they explored the lives of significant African individuals who lived in London during the 1600s and 1700s. They then moved on to the sugar section, where a large piece of sugarcane was displayed as a symbol of power, reinforcing the economic and human impact of the sugar trade.
In the section titled “From Abolition to Emancipation,” the children learned about key figures who campaigned against slavery, including William Wilberforce, one of the founding members of our own school. They also watched a short film about the legacies left behind by the transatlantic slave trade.
To conclude, the children spent time reflecting on London’s role in the British trade in enslaved Africans. This part of the visit was deeply moving and thought-provoking, leaving them with a greater understanding of the complexities of history. Their visit to the museum has enriched their learning, providing them with a deeper and more informed perspective on this important topic.
If you are interested in extending their Global studies outside of school, parents may be interested in children’s session of mud larking in the River Thames, organised by the London Docklands Museum. Click here for the details. Please do let Mrs Deale know if you attend a session.
Mud larking along the River Thames is a fascinating way of exploring London’s rich history. Find out more from expert mud larker, Old Caterhamain Lara Maiklem who was interviewed for CaterhamConnected’s Omnia Magazine.
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