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The Rudiment Box

The Rudiment Box hangs in the Nursery Playroom of Number 29. This early 19th century educational device consists of a scroll of over thirty colourful instructional prints, in a glass fronted cabinet. The purpose of the device was simple. A handle was turned each day by a teacher to reveal a new lesson, or ‘rudiment' for the children. The scroll is on loan to Number 29 by kind permission of the Church of Ireland College of Education.
Read more about the Darton Scrolls »

See below to explore some of the images from the scrolls.

Geography Map of Ireland The Introductory Lectures for Cole Alley indicate that the Rudiment Box was to be used in association with text books. Read more about Map of Ireland ».		Agriculture Rustic Scenes Among the images depicting agriculture and food production is one titled Rustic Scenes for Infant Schools. Read more about Rustic Scenes ».

Natural History Costumes of Nations This print entitled The Costumes of Nations for Infant Schools is a finely rendered and colourful image of the costumes & associated characteristics of 12 different nations. Read more about Costumes of Nations ».		The Vegetable Kingdom Leaves/Seeds of Trees The Rudiment Box instructions define the Vegetable Kingdom as containing "everything that has growth and life, without being able to move of itself". Read more about Leaves and Seeds of Trees ».

The Mineral Kingdom Geology and Mineralogy The Rudiment Box Instructions state that "anything dug out of the earth which does not grow and live, like plants, is called a mineral substance". Read more about Geology and Mineralogy ».		Miscellaneous Mariner's Compass The Mariner's Compass is one of the most colourful and finely rendered images in the collection. It also survives is relatively good condition. Read more about Mariner's Compass ».

Miscellaneous Sources of Food The Sources of Food is part of a pair of prints dedicated to eating included in the scrolls. Read more about Sources of Food ».		Words Dispositions Good Dispositions to be Cultivated and Evil Dispositions to be Avoided is one of the most engaging prints on the scrolls. Read more about dispositions ».

Geometry & Grammar Grammar The grammar print is one of series of prints in the Rudiment Box which typifies the association of text and image as a teaching tool. Read more about Grammar ».