History comes to life for Long Stratton pupils

Schoolchildren in Long Stratton were visited by a host of characters from the past as part of a project to learn about the village's history.

Pupils from St Mary's Junior School explored the heritage and past development of their village ahead of its potential expansion.

The children worked with staff from Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service as part of the initiative commissioned by the Greater Norwich Development Partnership to see what lessons could be learnt from the past about future developments.

Long Stratton is earmarked for 1,800 new homes over the next 15 years as part of a project for thousands of new houses in the Greater Norwich area, which could fund a long-awaited bypass.

Pupils found out what life would have been like for the people living in the village during the Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Victorian and second world war periods by meeting costumed characters from different eras.

Some of their drawings and writings will be included in the exhibition 'How Long Stratton has Grown' exhibition at the library from March 14 to April 2.

Telling the story of Long Stratton's development, it includes old photographs of the village, images of historical objects and work from the pupils of St Mary's Junior School.

Some of the Year 3 pupils also designed and made models of the type of houses they would like to see built in the village in the future.

Alex Pritchard, deputy head at St Mary's Junior, said: 'They really enjoyed the project and it really brought the history of Long Stratton to life. For the children, it is quite an exciting development.'