Chance for schools to delve into Corby's past with box scheme

Corby Council’s Loan Box allows teachers or schools to pay a small fee to have the box for a week at a time to use in class.

It looks at Corby’s historic Pole Fair which is held every 20 years and uses original and replica Pole Fair items from fairs as far back as 1902.

It contains commemorative plates, tickets and pamphlets about the fairs and is supported with photographic images from 1902, 1922, 1947 along with a short film from the 1962 fair.

With help and funding from Museums Development East Midlands, Corby Council produced the Loan Box complete with teaching notes which were created with help from an education professional experienced in museum education.

Corby Council’s lead member for community, Cllr John McGhee, said: “It’s hard to believe that the younger generation of Corby may not have heard of the Pole Fair, an event that means so much to many people in Corby and is such a huge part of the town’s heritage.

“This Loan Box will allow young people all over the borough to be educated in one Corby’s biggest events whilst hopefully bringing some fun into the lesson as well.”

Any schools in Corby who would like to hire the box for local history lessons can contact the council’s heritage development worker Billy Dalziel on 01536 464284.