Now on Display- Pilgrims’ Way Primary School at St Augustine’s Abbey, Canterbury

Last May Isabelle was thrilled to partner with Pilgrims’ Way Primary School and English Heritage’s St Augustine’s Abbey in Canterbury to lead a creative workshop. This workshop was all about stained glass art and history, and was part of the school and English Heritage’s participation in Historic Royal Palaces ‘Henry VIII on Tour Schools Tudor Festival’ which was celebrated this past summer at Hampton Court Palace!

Pilgrims’ Way Primary School Tudor Quarry Window on display at St Augustine’s Abbey.

Image Courtesy of Dover Castle Facebook Page, 10 August

Over 50 students in Year 5 from Pilgrims’ Way Primary school explored medieval glazing in the creative workshop. They heard about the history of stained glass, saw modern tools, and discussed historic examples. The students made their own small Tudor inspired ‘stained glass’ quarry panels using acetate, paper, yellow paint, and pens with designs inspired by their visit to St Augustine’ Abbey and wider learning about how Henry VIII shaped art, faith, and architecture. Each student contributed one quarry that was collaged together to make one big window. The students worked as a team to create their very own medieval glazing studio!

The assembled window of unique designs in a typically Tudor arrangement of repeated geometric diamonds creates a fantastically vibrant, harmonious, and eye-catching work of art by the students. It demonstrates their excitement to engage with the history of Henry VIII at St Augustine’s Abbey and beyond, as well as their enthusiasm for learning about and trying a heritage craft.

‘The window reminds us that, just like the Tudors, we build our heritage piece by piece - and that young hands can craft lasting stories through art’.

The top half of the assembled collage of students’ Tudor, Henry VIII, and St Augustine’s Abbey inspired quarries.

The students of Year 5 were incredibly enthusiastic to engage with stained glass by listening, questioning, and crafting. Isabelle was excited that she was able to demonstrate stained glass art, conservation, and research as a career to the children, perhaps inspiring future directions in heritage and the arts that may previously have been unknown or felt not possible.

The creative workshop and finished art work were very well received: ‘it looks amazing! It’s so effective!’

The bottom half of the quarry window, including an inscription written to commemorate the student makers and the date.

The Pilgrims’ Way Tudor Quarry Window is currently on display at St Augustine’s Abbey. It’s possible to spot amongst the Abbey ruins many of the artefacts, patterns, and motifs that inspired quarry designs!

The window will later return to Pilgrims’ Way Primary School and be displayed there as a lasting reminder of the stained glass workshop, visits to St Augustine’s Abbey and Hampton Court Palace, and the students’ creativity!

Isabelle would like to thank Rose Briggs from English Heritage for arranging the workshop and the students and teachers of Year 5 at Pilgrims’ Way Primary School for their creativity and energy!