Henry VIII Research Project with the Historical Association
The History Department has been working on an exciting teacher fellowship project in partnership with the Historical Association and Henry on Tour.
This research project is mapping the royal progresses of Henry VIII for the first time and has revealed that the king made multiple visits to Reading.
As part of the project, students from Little Heath competed to conduct the research into these visits. This was an incredible opportunity, as nothing yet exists in any depth in published historical literature about the visits and so the students had the chance to undertake the work of historians and archaeologists themselves. They managed to locate documents over 500 years old, relating to the visits in the Royal Berkshire Archive! They also explored Reading Abbey ruins and artefacts from the period in Reading Museum.
The students have used this incredible research to write up some very interesting details and theories about Henry VIII’s visits, and we are delighted to be able to publish these (for the first time!) and to celebrate their fascinating work with you below:
What do Henry VIII’s visits reveal about Reading and England between 1509-1547 by Isabella H, Year 7
A piece written in the style of historian, Miranda Kaufmann by Sofia H-S, Year 7
Following this incredible work, Isabella was personally congratulated by the Head of Research for Historic Royal Palaces, Professor Anthony Musson. Well done Isabella!
You can also get a sense of the research processes they undertook by watching the films they created while on their site visits:
Archaeology film:
Archives film:
Thank you and congratulations to the following students for all of your hard work:
- Ella F, Year 7
- Isabella H, Year 7
- Glenda H-B, Year 7
- Sofia H-S, Year 7
- Grace M, Year 7
- Aiden Q, Year 7
- Rubie-Rose W, Year 7
- Melissa W, Year 7
- Ben C, Year 8
- Ameila H, Year 8
- Amelia G, Year 9
- Cleo Y, Year 9
