A local history study following the story of Tilly and George who find a mysterious trunk in their attic. Includes object handling, storytelling, examining evidence, art session. Schools are welcome to borrow the trunk for further exploration after your visit.
Tom’s Trunk Story and Object handling (recommended essential)
- Find out how Tilly and George came across the mystery trunk and explore the objects inside in this interactive story book and object handling session. Discover how the museum cares for historic objects and explore the life of Thomas Gainsborough through the trunk’s artefacts.
Tom’s writings
- Examine some of Thomas’s letters and compare it to the writing found in the trunk. Have a go at writing with a pen and ink and decide how difficult it would be to forge a signature. Explore seal and create your own logo and experiment with paper.
Tom’s drawings
- Using the sketches found in the trunk and our amazing collection of Gainsborough drawings, be inspired to create your own landscape or portrait sketch
Fake or Fortune hunting in the galleries
- Compare the drawings found in the trunk to the Gainsborough’s in the galleries – how similar are they? Explore Tom’s House – can you find any links between the artefacts found in the trunk and Tom’s life?
Walking in Tom’s Footsteps
-
Found in Tom’s Trunk are a series of views from around Sudbury. Follow in Tom’s footsteps and compare Sudbury then and now. What has changed since Tom lived here in the 18th Century?
