On a cold and frosty morning in March Pre-Prep girls from Pipers Corner School, along with their teachers, set off for the Chiltern Open Air Museum, all in full Victorian dress in celebration of World Book Day.

The girls began their time at the museum with a journey back in time to the Iron Age where they discovered how people lived, how they cooked and what they ate, how they kept warm and what they did. They were shown an Iron Age fridge and an oven and learnt how they made flour using a quern. The stones were so heavy that even Mrs Roberts had trouble turning them.

The girls then travelled forward in time to the Victorian era and enjoyed a trip through the Wycombe Toll House, a tiny cottage fitted out in Victorian style, complete with outside toilet.

In the afternoon the group moved on to the Victorian Schoolroom where a School Mistress conducted a Victorian style lesson in which no talking was allowed and girls had to remain seated at all times. Hands were checked for cleanliness and the Pre-Preps also took part in a maths lesson using a slate. This was followed by a handwriting lesson in a copybook using pen and ink, (no left-handers allowed) and then a lesson where they had to draw and identify a Victorian artefact. Most were identified correctly although some of the girls were a little perplexed by the wooden finger holder that was used as a punishment to tie naughty pupils' hands behind their back.

Before leaving, the girls completed their exciting day with a snapshot of life in the forties and fifties, as they looked round a pre-fabricated house complete with ducks flying over the mantelpiece and a huge pram.

The girls were all delighted to each receive a goody bag at the end of their visit which contained two Victorian toys and cards with details of playground games. It was a wonderful day where everyone learnt a lot about life in both Iron Age and Victorian times.