Investigating Medieval Castles in Scotland Children find castles exciting and many of the most impressive remains are in the care of Historic Scotland. Some occupy dramatic sites, others still display formidable defences, but even the most ruinous help to bring history alive. This resource looks at castles built in Scotland between the 12th–16th centuries. It aims to help teachers gain confidence in using castles with pupils of all ages. Caerlaverock Castle, Dumfriesshire PLACES 2 Medieval Castles in Scotland Bringing the past to life Contents How to use this P2 Visits to historic sites fire the imagination and inspire learning. Pupils How to use this resource resource can stand on the site of a castle and P3-4 This resource is aimed at teachers experience the strategic position it Integrating a visit with a and designed to link Historic Scotland holds. They can gain an understanding classroom study sites with classroom studies focussing of what it might have been like to live P5 on castles built in Scotland between in a castle in peacetime and to defend Supporting learning the 12th–16th centuries. a castle during an attack. and teaching NB These notes are not intended to be The list of castles in the care of P9 copied and distributed to pupils. Historic Scotland on page 23 gives a Timeline: the rise and The resource aims to provide: brief description of each and is intended to help you choose a site to fall of medieval castles • a clear indication of how visits to visit which best supports your topic. It in Scotland historic sites can bring to life studies is also intended to raise awareness of P10 about medieval castles and provide important but lesser-known sites that support for the 5–14 National Medieval castles in may be on your doorstep. Scotland: background Guidelines information • information on the historical How to book a visit P13 background of medieval castles for Historic Scotland operates a year- Castle life the non-specialist teacher round free admission scheme for P18 • a selection of sites which best educational visits (except Edinburgh Castle warfare illustrate different periods of Castle and Stirling Castle where a development. charge is levied during May–August P22 inclusive). To find out how to book a Map of selected sites class visit please visit the education in the care of pages on the Historic Scotland Historic Scotland website: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk or telephone 0131 668 8793. Pupils at Stirling Castle build a siege engine to attack the castle wall HISTORIC SCOTLAND Medieval Castles in Scotland 3 At this stage you may also like to: Integrating a visit with • Familiarise pupils with words to do with castle life by asking them to compile an illustrated dictionary of classroom studies castle words Educational visits have the greatest value if they are • Look at maps of the area around the castle you are built into the original planning of a topic. We going to visit. Discuss with pupils why they think recommend you plan your visit somewhere in the castles were built in that location middle, giving your pupils time to become familiarised • Talk about what it must have been like to live in a with why castles were built, who lived in them and what castle in the Middle Ages life was like. • Discuss what important events took place there One way to introduce a project on castles is to assemble raw materials and objects to illustrate castle • Discuss with pupils what kind of weapons would have life and to demonstrate how it differs from today. The been used and what the fighting would have materials in the table below are easily available. been like. Resource Talk about… Leather (use old shoes from charity shops) Leather was widely used in the Middle Ages for everyday purposes and as protection from weather and fire. (Wet leather was used to protect vulnerable parts of timber castles from attack by fire) Fleece (from farms or wire fences alongside fields) Spinning and weaving Heather and rushes How floors were covered to keep down mud and dust, but trapped food thrown down for dogs, spilt beer (ale) and animal mess Logs How fires provided hot water, heat for cooking and warmth Oats and barley How cereals were used to brew ale and to make substantial meals such as porridge and bread Herbs (fennel, garlic, rosemary, borage, mint, parsley) and How food was flavoured spices (root ginger, peppercorns, cinnamon sticks, cloves and nutmeg) Honey How food and drink was sweetened Fruit and vegetables (apples, cherries, crab apples, pears, What fruit and vegetables were available in the almonds, leeks, onions and cabbages) Middle Ages Pottery shards (your local museum or archaeological unit How clay was used to make a wide variety of may allow you to borrow some) everyday objects Horseshoes How horses were valuable and used in battle, in entertainment (tournaments and the hunt), and to carry messengers Candles How castles were lit (candles made of beeswax were expensive so lights made from rushes [rush-lights] were widely used) HISTORIC SCOTLAND 4 Medieval Castles in Scotland Before the visit they can equally well find out from Pottage books in the classroom. • Log on to the Historic Scotland You will need: website: www.historic- The evidence record can ask pupils to 2 handfuls of oatmeal; scotland.gov.uk for more information use the headings ‘I see’, ‘I hear’, and ‘I honey about your chosen site and any site- feel’ at chosen locations, to look for specific or relevant themed resource clues to explain what went on at the Method material available. Many sites also site, and to look for evidence of castle 1 Soak the oatmeal offer programmes of curriculum life, development and damage. linked on-site activities. overnight in water Pupils can record by: • If possible, make a free planning 2 The next day simmer • taking notes of factual information gently in a saucepan visit before taking a class to your chosen site so that you familiarise • making quick diagrams of specific 3 Add honey to sweeten. yourself with the site and the details evidence it offers. To book a free Pokerounce • taking photographs of significant planning visit to Edinburgh or Stirling features or views You will need: Castles telephone 0131 668 8793. Planning visits to other sites can be • using tape-recorders to describe 10 fingers of toast; booked direct with the site. what they see, hear, feel and smell. 2 tbsps of clear honey; a small pinch of ground Working on site Suggestions for follow-up work black pepper; Your pupils’ task should be to look for Following the visit your pupils should a large pinch of ground physical evidence of the history of the pool their findings to form a broad ginger; castle. Useful starting points are: view of what it would have been like to a large pinch of live in a castle both in peacetime and • what materials were used to cinnamon; under siege. Pupils can be asked to construct it? pine nuts. look at the clues and work out what Method • what does the building tell us about they definitely know and what they can the people who lived there? reasonably guess. 1 Put the honey and • what evidence is there for everyday spices into a small pan This can form the basis for a wide life eg cooking, heating, toilets and and heat gently for 3 to range of language and expressive arts storage? 4 minutes activities, such as role-play and drama, • how was the castle defended under compiling their own guidebook or 2 Pour the honey mixture attack? leaflet, or interviewing local historians/ on to the toast fingers museum curators. These activities can: and spread • is there any evidence to show that the castle was besieged? • develop skills and techniques in 3 Decorate each toast language and the expressive arts finger with pine nuts. • have any changes been made to the castle since it was built and why? • consolidate and expand knowledge and understanding about people in • who looks after the castle today? the past As pupils explore the building, they • help to develop informed attitudes can compile an evidence record in about the ways in which our heritage words and pictures about the site. The is preserved. aim of the evidence record should be to encourage development of Practical work could include: observational, descriptive and • cooking simple dishes adapted from recording skills rather than to look for authentic recipes, (see box, left). answers to specific questions which HISTORIC SCOTLAND Medieval Castles in Scotland 5 This resource complements the Social Subjects and Supporting learning Technology components of the 5–14 Environmental Studies Guidelines. and teaching It focuses mainly on the attainment outcome People in the past at levels A–D. The suggested activities can be easily adapted for all levels of pupils. The resource also suggests ways in which medieval castles can be linked to Education for Citizenship and provides activity Environmental Studies – Social Subjects: suggestions to support learning both in, and through, People in the past the Expressive Arts (Art and Design, Drama and Music). Knowledge and Understanding – Teaching Activities Learning Outcomes Strands People, events & societies Use a wide range of resources including Know about castle life & events linked to visits to castles to look for physical castles evidence Change, continuity, cause & effect Use maps to study the position of Understand why castles were built in castles certain places; recognise that castles have changed in response to society, technology & warfare Time & historical sequence Look at how castles have developed Understand the chronology of castles over time Nature of historical evidence Compare site-based evidence with other Understand the importance of physical sources eg paintings and illustrations evidence and the role of Historic Scotland and similar organisations in preserving our heritage Environmental Studies: Technology The following examples show how a topic on medieval castles might be enhanced through activities related to technological capability.