KS1-2KS1–2 KS3 TEACHERS’ KIT KS4+ Stokesay Castle This kit helps teachers plan a visit to Stokesay Castle, one of the first fortified manor houses in England. It is incredibly well-preserved and remains largely unchanged since medieval times. Use these resources before, during and after your visit to help students get the most out of their learning. GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR EDUCATION BOOKINGS TEAM: 0370 333 0606 [email protected] bookings.english-heritage.org.uk/education Share your visit with us on Twitter @EHEducation The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a company, no. 07447221, registered in England. All images are copyright of English Heritage or Historic England unless otherwise stated. Published September 2018 WELCOME This Teachers’ Kit for Stokesay Castle has been designed for teachers and group leaders to support a free self-led visit to the site. It includes a variety of materials suited to teaching a wide range of subjects and key stages, with practical information, activities for use on site and ideas to support follow-up learning. We know that each class and study group is different, so we’ve collated our resources into one kit allowing you to decide which materials are best suited to your needs. Please use the contents page, which has been colour-coded to help you easily locate what you need, and view individual sections. All of our activities have clear guidance on the intended use for study so you can adapt them for your desired learning outcomes. We hope you enjoy your visit and find this Teachers’ Kit useful. If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team either via [email protected] or on 0370 333 0606. English Heritage Learning Team ICON KEY The icons below will help you quickly identify the types of activities and information presented. KS1–2 KS3 KS4+ AUDIO SPEAKING VIDEO HANDS ON LOOK LISTEN SMELL WRITE READ ROLE PLAY CHALLENGE DID YOU KNOW? EXAMINE MATHS ART INDIVIDUAL GROUP ACTIVITY ACTIVITY STOKESAY CASTLE www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stokesay-castle/school-visits 2 OF 55 CONTENTS KS1–2 KS3 KS4+ INTRODUCTION Site Information 5–7 Site Plan 8 Hazard Information 9 PRE-VISIT Historical Information 11–15 Glossary 16–18 Timeline 19–20 Medieval Feast Role Play 21 Stokesay Castle Researchers 22–26 AT THE CASTLE Show Down vs Show Off 28–31 Geography Spotters 32 Scoping the Castle 33 Top Things to See 34–41 The Power of the South Tower 42–44 POST-VISIT Sources 46–53 DIY Folk Tales 54 Local Comparisons 55 STOKESAY CASTLE www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stokesay-castle/school-visits 3 OF 55 INTRODUCTION All the practical things you need to know to plan your visit to Stokesay Castle. STOKESAY CASTLE www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stokesay-castle/school-visits 4 OF 55 BACK TO CONTENTS STOKESAY CASTLE SITE INFORMATION 9 P 7 8 6 10 1 5 4 2 3 KEY TO SITE FACILITIES 1 Bag storage 6 Hall Visitor Centre Tearoom 2 Moat 7 North tower Shop Picnic area 3 Gatehouse 8 Solar block 4 Curtain wall 9 South tower Toilets Accessible toilets P Car park also available 5 Courtyard 10 Church of St John the Baptist Continued... STOKESAY CASTLE www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stokesay-castle/school-visits 5 OF 55 FREE PLANNING VISIT To help you plan your trip, we can offer you a free advance visit. Simply print off your visit permit and take it along to the site; your permit allows you one-time free family entry. Permit entry is not accepted on event days. OPENING HOURS FOR EDUCATION VISITORS For information about opening times, please visit: www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stokesay-castle/prices-and-opening-times PARKING A large car park is located about 300 metres from the entrance, with space for two coaches to park and charges do not apply. A coach parking permit is available from the visitor centre. WELCOME Please ask your group to line up outside the visitor centre while the leader enters the shop to register the group. A member of staff will then show you to the bag storage room, should you require it. TOILETS Toilets (including accessible toilets) are located at the visitor centre. SHOP The shop is very well stocked with memorabilia for your students to buy and take home. We ask that you help our staff by supervising your students and only allowing ten in the shop at any one time. GUIDEBOOKS You get 20% off site guidebooks when you present your visit permit on site. LUNCH Picnicking is not permitted in the inner courtyard, but there are benches just outside the entrance, near the gatehouse. There is also a tearoom near the car park. Students are welcome to purchase food and drink from the cafe but we ask that school groups share the available tables with other visitors. STORAGE A room inside the gatehouse can be used to store up to 30 bags. When you arrive, please ask a member of staff in the visitor centre about using this space. WET WEATHER Most of the castle buildings are roofed and provide cover from the rain. If the weather is bad, the site staff will do their best to find a suitable place for your group to eat their lunch. ACCESSIBILITY For information about access, please visit: www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stokesay-castle/access Continued... www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stokesay-castle/school-visits 6 OF 55 BEHAVIOUR AND SUPERVISION Space on site is limited, so to help your class get the most out of their visit please ensure your group booking does not exceed 60 learners and leaders at one time and that no more than 30 explore inside the castle at one time. While at the site, please make sure your students are supervised at all times. Please follow these leader-to-student ratios: ■ Years 1 and 2 (ages 5 to 7), 1 leader for every 6 students (1:6). ■ Years 3 to 5 (ages 7 to 10), 1 leader for every 8 students (1:8). ■ Years 6 and over (ages 10 to 18), 1 leader for every 15 students (1:15). ■ For an adult learning group, there are no ratios but there must be an appointed leader. www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stokesay-castle/school-visits 7 OF 55 BACK TO CONTENTS STOKESAY CASTLE SITE PLAN STOKESAY CASTLE SITE AND FLOOR PLANS Second-floor plan Solar block North Upper part of hall roof space tower Early 13th century 1285–1305 1639–64 South 19th century and later tower First-floor plan N Solar North block Upper part of hall tower South 015metres tower 015yards Solar block basement plan Ground-floor plan Moat Possible strong room Solar North Cellar block Hall tower Well South tower Well Gatehouse first-floor plan Gatehouse Moat www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stokesay-castle/school-visits 8 OF 55 BACK TO CONTENTS STOKESAY CASTLE HAZARD INFORMATION It is the responsibility of the group leader to complete a risk assessment before to the site visit. The following information is intended as an aid and does not replace the group leader’s own risk assessment. Please do not ask English Heritage staff to complete, check or sign any section of your risk assessment, as they have no responsibility to do so. All stonework and trees on site are inspected annually; however, storm damage can affect the stability of the masonry and the branches of apparently healthy trees – leaders should be particularly aware of this when undertaking their own risk assessments before to a visit. On going conservation or maintenance work on site may cause additional temporary hazards. Please be aware that environmental conditions at historic sites may change rapidly and that you will need to remain alert at all times during your visit. Please be aware that the site may close at short notice due to adverse weather. Dogs on leashes may be present on site. Stokesay Castle has outdoor areas and sheltered indoor space. ■ The walls are rough and may contain sharp stones. ■ There are some climbing hazards. ■ There are low-level doorways and ceilings. The car and coach park is situated opposite the site, across a minor road. ■ There is no footpath through the car park. ■ Visitors need to cross a minor road; hedges and a bend in the road may obstruct views. There are large areas of uneven surfaces around the property. ■ There are uneven floors in the towers. ■ The ground surfaces are uneven throughout and can be slippery when wet. There are sheer drops around the site. ■ There are low, open windows at the top of the south tower. There are a number of steps and staircases on the site. ■ Steep, wooden steps lead from the great hall to the north tower. ■ A narrow, spiral staircase leads up to the south tower. ■ The descent into the moat has no handrails. ■ There are steps from the courtyard down to the south tower basement. The wildlife at Stokesay gives rise to a number of hazards. ■ A maternity colony of Daubenton’s bats often roosts in the south tower. A small number of these carry bat rabies. The virus can only be spread by direct contact. ■ If you find a bat, alive or dead, please inform a member of staff. ■ If anyone in your group touches or is bitten by a bat, please tell a member of staff as an effective treatment is available.