Secondary – KS3

Discovering Witney

Through this interactive workshop, students will use their historical enquiry skills to examine a range of sources to uncover how the blanket trade shaped the town, its people, and its place in British industrial history.

Students will consider the social and economic impact of the mills on men, women and children, and how industrial innovation influenced the local community.

Through oral histories, objects and source material students will develop practical skills while thinking critically about the connections between past and present. They will explore questions such as:

• How did Witney’s industry shape the town we know today?
• How did technology, trade, and labour affect people’s lives?
• What can the story of Witney teach us about local and national identity?

This workshop encourages students to make links between historical processes, community life, and the wider industrial landscape, fostering an understanding of how heritage informs the present and inspires the future.

Learning Objectives

• Develop historical enquiry skills by examining a range of sources, including oral histories, objects, and documents, to investigate Witney’s blanket industry and local heritage.
• Uncover the impact of the industrial revolution on Witney.
• Make connections between past and present by reflecting on how local industry shaped the town’s identity and considering the relevance of heritage today.

National Curriculum Links

History

• A local history study, exploring Witney’s blanket industry and its impact on the town and wider society.

• Understand the social, economic and technological changes during the Industrial Revolution and their effect on communities.

• Use a range of sources to investigate and interpret the past, including primary evidence such as oral histories, objects, and documents.

• Develop chronological knowledge and understanding of historical concepts such as continuity, change, cause and consequence.