Gustav Holst left the house where he was born, at the age of seven, after the death of his mother. By the 1930s, he had become a celebrity and was living in Thaxted, Essex. The world had changed considerably since his birth – cars, electricity, and telephones were commonplace and Holst’s music could now be heard on gramophone records.  His birthplace had become a boarding house owned by the Doxey family and it is Evelyn, the grown up daughter of the household who welcomes children and introduces them to the changes which have taken place since Holst lived there. The wind-up gramophone plays her favourite music and downstairs in the family kitchen, children help with the chores and find out how new technology and new materials are making life easier. Upstairs, children are encouraged to explore the Regency and Victorian period rooms and to suggest similarities and differences which would have occurred by the 1930s.

Curriculum Links

History:
Understanding how changes and developments in the home and society can help to place historical events in chronological order; children will begin to learn to make links between those changes and the life of a ‘significant person’.  By investigating Holst’s birthplace, children will begin to learn to place local history in the context of social change and national events.

Literacy:
Speaking and listening skills as well as group discussion are encouraged. There are opportunities to write about and record change as well as to take part in role play. Investigating the past, similarities and differences helps to introduce new vocabulary.

Science/Design and Technology:
Using the senses to investigate materials, children are encouraged to think about function and design and how things work.