School groups will be able to visit Trent Park House of Secrets when it opens to the public later this year. Educational resources are already available online for Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils.
School groups will be able to visit Trent Park House of Secrets when it opens to the public later this year.
Trent Park House in Enfield became an espionage headquarters during World War Two. German generals, held as prisoners of war, were invited to relax at Trent Park, completely unaware that the whole site was bugged with a team of secret listeners in the basement.
The site has stood empty since 2012 but is due to open a new museum inside the country house, called the Trent Park House of Secrets, to tell the fascinating story of the Secret Listeners whose work led to crucial wartime breakthroughs.
Educational visits
It is expected that schools will be able to book visits from this spring but there are already learning resources available on the website that are most suitable for Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3.
The Top Secret Briefing resource is a six-page guide that gives background on the Secret Listeners, explaining key words.
There are also suggested activities for KS2 and KS2 students with links to history, PSHE and English. One of them invites pupils to interrogate a character from a well-known book or popular film, coming up with the best questions to ask and how to get the character talking.
There will also be a dedicated Clore Learning Centre opening alongside the museum later in the year.
Fascinating history
Trent Park’s story dates back to 1779 when George III presented the royal doctor Sir Philip Jebb with a 99-year lease on 250 acres of the royal estate. After Jebb’s death, the site was eventually sold to Sir Edward Sassoon, the head of a Jewish merchant dynasty who left it to his son, Philip.
Trent Park House of Secrets will feature magnificently restored and furnished rooms that were the backdrop to Sir Philip Sassoon’s socialite and political world, as he hosted some of the most influential statesmen, journalists, royalty and politicians in the 1930s.
A scale replica of the house is being created and will be a significant part of the visitor experience, helping to bring its extraordinary history to life.
For more information visit and to sign up for school visit updates go to trentparkhouse.org.uk
