Our 11s pupils (Year 7) visited Strawberry Hill House this term as part of a Gothic literature trip organised by the English department. The trip supported their current classroom study of the unit and gave pupils the chance to see first-hand the building created by Horace Walpole, whose novel The Castle of Otranto is often considered the first Gothic novel. The house’s distinctive architecture and decorative features offered a useful backdrop for pupils to think about how setting can shape a story.
Upper Sixth English student Ioanna, below, joined as an extra helper on the trip too. With a strong personal interest in Gothic literature and an intention to study this period further at university, she was a valuable addition to the group and helped pupils make connections between the features of the house and the atmosphere typical of Gothic fiction. She noted how Strawberry Hill House encapsulates the Gothic blend of the “scary, sad and gorgeous,” and how Walpole’s intention to create “gloomth” (a mixture of gloominess and warmth) is reflected in the rooms’ striking contrasts.
I think the trip helped the 11s visualise Gothic settings and be inspired in their own writing
Upper Sixth English student and trip helper, Ioanna
During the visit, pupils took part in a drama workshop and a creative writing session that encouraged them to experiment with ideas for their own Gothic stories. Their tour of Strawberry Hill House was led in part by staff in costume, who took on character roles as they guided pupils through the rooms and explained aspects of the house’s history and design. Pupils also created simple Gothic comic-strip scenes using digital tools provided at the venue, a selection of which can be seen in our photo gallery below.
To view a gallery of more photos
Reflecting on why she thinks the trip proved so valuable for the younger pupils, Ioanna says, "I think the trip helped the 11s visualise Gothic settings and be inspired in their own writing. They learnt about the house’s history, read parts of Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto and acted out their own Gothic scenes, which showed them that the genre is really fun to explore, even, or especially, with all its misery and terror!"
Some of the girls were really interested in Mary Shelley when they heard how young she was when she wrote Frankenstein
She also adds, "During the writing exercise, some of the girls became really interested in Mary Shelley when they heard how young she was when she wrote Frankenstein. They were so enthusiastic and really impressed by the description of the monster - I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s another great Gothic writer amongst them!”
By the end of the day, the 11s returned to school with a clearer sense of how the Gothic genre works and a range of ideas to draw on as they begin writing their own pieces this term.
