Q. How did Spike's get their name?
While finding the answer why not fill in our Survey?

September 2007 will see the opening of the Spike Heritage and Exhibition Centre.  The guided tours will be designed to integrate with the National Curriculum, offering a comprehensive understanding of vagrancy and homelessness during the Victorian era.  We will have a wealth of interpretation equipment to make the children's day not only interesting but also informative.  Both tours include a 10 minute video detailing the Poor Law system as it evolved from the Poor Law Amendment Act of  1834.  The Spike is set in 4 acres of parkland and has a picnic area for use by visiting schools.

If you would like more information, please contact us on 01483 598 420 to discuss your requirements.

In order to make sure that the Spike experience is the very best possible, we would appreciate information to help our survey.

Your name:
Position held:
School name:
Address:
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email:
Would you like us to contact you by email  or telephone  ?
Would you like an information pack:

 

Would you consider a school visit to the Spike?   
If the answer is Yes please let us know how you would use the Spike:

 

Spike Quick Tour

The quick tour is approximately an hour long and involves a guided tour of the heritage site and includes a 10 minute educational video presentation.

Cost £1.50 per pupil (minimum 15) 

 

Spike Experience

Spend a morning at the Spike and interact with the building.  The experience includes the tour, a 10 minute video and 30 minute lecture on the Victorian Poor Laws and life in the 'submerged tenth'

Pupils will be able to dress up and re-enact the life of a 19th century vagrant, pick oakum and take photographs for the family album.

Includes use of the picnic area in the secluded garden!

Cost £4.00 per pupil (minimum 15) 

 
How many pupils would attend the visit?:

Would you use the lecture facility during the visit?

If you have any further comments or suggestions, please enter them in the space below:

Thank you for completing and returning this form. 

Your details will remain confidential however the results of this survey will be supplied to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

A. Spikes obtained their name from the tool, a spike, that was used for picking oakum a common 'task' that was performed by vagrants to help pay for their keep.  The Oxford Dictionary of English has the informal of the word Spike as "A hostel ward offering informal accommodation for the homeless"

Revised: Januar 01, 2009 .