English Heritage teachers' packs

We were excited to have a chance to work at two of English Heritage's most impressive northern sites - Warkworth and Carlisle Castles. Emma recently finished writing new online teacher's packs for both sites, which involved consulting with teachers and site staff to identify how best to meet the needs of schools that visit as part of English Heritage's Free Educational Visits scheme.

 

Warkworth Castle, in Northumberland, was for centuries the home of the powerful Percy family, whose descendants still live at nearby Alnwick Castle.  Past residents include Harry Hotspur, the hero of many border ballads and the anti-hero of Shakespeare's Henry IV part I.  The castle fell into disuse in the Tudor period and visitors can now see a fantastic example of medieval architecture.  Find out more, including how to visit, at the Warkworth Castle website.

 

Carlisle Castle is a very different site.  There has been a fortress on the site since Roman times, and it remained a working castle within living memory. For centuries Carlisle was an important strategic town for the English in either defending against or attacking the Scots, and the castle played its part in numerous battles and skirmishes. Mary, Queen of Scots was a prisoner here, and the castle was seized by the Jacobites, led by Bonnie Prince Charlie, during the rebellion of 1745. Find out more at the Carlisle Castle website.

 

The challenge in writing teachers' packs for both sites was in deciding what to leave out! You can download the Warkworth Castle and Carlisle Castle packs free from English Heritage. Feedback from teachers has been great. We'd love to know what you think!

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