16th November 2011, 07:12 PM
I have a lecture (which occasionally still gets aired) where I show photographs of 4 traditional looking English churches (all high Victorian style buildings). I ask the audience what they think the buildings are and what function they perform....The twist is that none are exactly what they look like or function as they were originally designed. One is now a heritage centre, one is actually a synagogue although it was deliberately designed to resemble a CoE church, one is a former hospital chapel although the hospital is long gone and the last is a actually a functioning church although it was designed as a garrison chapel for a former military base now developed as a housing estate. I explain the diificulties of interpreting buildings and function when you have standing walls and rooves and then show a series of slides of merely foundations and ruined abbeys etc and try and explain the added difficulties archaeologists have, let alone standing building recorders, and explain about the techniques and sources we use etc etc. Something similar might work for your class...
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...