Writes Andreas K. (4ths)
A group of Fourth Form Design, Engineering and Technology students, consisting of Lochlan M., Ethan D., Chase L. and Andreas K. (all 4ths), recently travelled from Moor Park to the City of London to visit Merchant Taylors’ Hall at 30 Threadneedle Street.
After taking the Tube to Liverpool Street Station, we made our way to one of London’s most historic buildings, where we would spend the day combining history and engineering through an exciting design competition.
As soon as we entered Merchant Taylors’ Hall, a mixture of excitement and amazement flooded our minds. The hall was much larger than expected and felt like a blend of a museum and a luxury hotel. The Merchant Taylors’ Company has existed since at least 1347, making it one of the oldest livery companies in London. Its rich history was reflected throughout the building in the elegant wooden panelling, grand staircases, oil paintings, Roman statues and historic artefacts.
One of the most fascinating objects on display was a rare funeral pall, a decorative cloth placed over a coffin during funeral ceremonies. We learned that only eleven of these historic palls are believed to exist. Two are owned by the Merchant Taylors’ Company, two belong to the King, and the remaining seven are held by private organisations. We also visited the hall’s impressive library, which contains many rare books, including the first English translation of the Bible.
The main purpose of the visit was to participate in a competition requiring teams to design and build a glider and a launcher. While Chase L. (4ths) and Ethan D. (4ths) worked on the glider, Lochlan M. (4ths) and I focused on constructing the launcher. Drawing inspiration from the Greek ballista, an ancient weapon used to launch projectiles over long distances, we designed a launcher capable of delivering powerful and consistent launches. The glider utilised triangulation to strengthen its wings while remaining lightweight. Throughout the day, we tested, refined and improved our designs, developing our engineering and problem-solving skills.
We would like to thank the Merchant Taylors’ Company for organising the event, Mr Docherty for giving us the opportunity to challenge and develop our engineering skills, and the team of professional engineer judges for their expertise, feedback and encouragement throughout the competition.
