Letter Writing workshop

School workshops on eighteenth-century letter writing have been devised in collaboration with Northumbria University and are drawn from emerging research on Laurence Sterne’s distinctive writing style. They are designed for Key Stage 2 but can be adapted for Key Stage 3.

Working with Seaview Primary School (Seaham), Husthwaite CE School, and Riverside Community Primary School (Tadcaster), pupils were given a rare chance to view and handle eighteenth-century manuscripts and printed books from the collection at Shandy Hall, and we encouraged to experiment with quill pens, ink, and wax seals.

After their workshop, the children from Husthwaite CE Primary School came to Shandy Hall for a letter-themed guided tour. They also explored the church where Sterne was the parson, experienced moth-trapping in the Shandy Hall gardens, and learned about screen-printing in the gallery with artist-in-residence Carry Akroyd.

You can see all the children’s letters on our specially designed webpage, Dear Sterne.

The workshop is available as a downloadable Learning Pack for parents and teachers.

To enquire about future workshops, contact us.