YOUNGSTERS were transported back to the year 1666 to help them learn about the Great Fire of London.

Year One and Two pupils at Harwich Primary School, in Barrack Lane, were joined by visiting teachers from specialist teaching company, History Off The Page, to take part in workshops and an archaeological dig to help them understand more about the devastating blaze.

Sonia Pells, Key Stage One co-ordinator, said all the pupils had had a great time.

She said: “It was fabulous. In the morning, they were doing things like candle making, baking plaited bread and creating buttons, which were some of the main businesses in London back then. Then, in the afternoon, they dug up some pieces of pottery which were hidden in soil and had to clean them off and decide whether they were from buildings which had been burnt down.

“The Great Fire of London is our topic for this termand we try to tie in as many subjects as we can on that theme.

“All the pupils had a lovely day.”