Learning outside the classroom - Ashbourne

The aim of this set of activities and resources is to enable young people, school groups and others to engage in learning activities drawing on the rich heritage and environment of Ashbourne. 

The activities are designed to be self-led by a group leader or teacher and help to develop observation, recording, appreciation and key fieldwork skills.

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The pack contains four separate activities.

1. What remains of Georgian Ashbourne?
   Understanding that Church Street today appears much as it did during the Georgian era.  Elements of map reading, orientation, observation and recording.

2. Be a building detective
   Encouraging users to look up and observe previously unnoticed details around the town.  Developing architectural vocabulary, observation and recording. 

3. Old photo comparison trail
   Develops map reading and observation skills and use of historical resources (old photographs).  Comparing what in the town has changed or stayed the same.

4. Photo orienteering in Ashbourne 
   Developing map, observation and compass use skills.

Each resource has a downloadable file which includes instructions on how to lead the activity and all of the resources required.

The pack also includes a map 'Ashbourne 1547' with no particular activity attached.  This can be used − according to leader preference- to highlight differences in map making techniques between then and now, for example:

• Orientation − east is at the top of the map rather than north

• no north point is shown

• distances are written rather than being shown on a scale bar

• buildings are drawn showing side elevation rather than plan

• words are spelled differently

• or to discover similarities between place names then and now.

More support for communities and groups in and around Ashbourne can be found at the Ashbourne Partnership website, linked to from the information on other websites section of this web page. This website also has specific information and resources about the history and heritage of this fascinating town available on their 'history' pages. 

Related documents

The following documents are in Portable Document Format (PDF). You can download the PDF software for free from the Adobe website (opens in a new window)

• Ashbourne be a building detective (810KB)
• Ashbourne 1547 (391KB)
• Ashbourne old photo comparison trail (3426KB)
• What remains of Georgian Ashbourne (4443KB)
• Photo orienteering in Ashbourne (2877KB)

Information on other websites

Visit Ashbourne website has more information and resources (opens in a new window)