School visits bring history to life

Pictured are children from Plas y Felin Primary School, Caerphilly, south Wales trying their hand at medieval banqueting

Thanks to a new and innovative education project, ‘Age of the Princes Discovery Visits’, Welsh schoolchildren can now discover more about 13th century eating, entertaining and etiquette.

Jointly organised by Cadw the Welsh Assembly Government’s historic environment service and Caerphilly County Borough Council, the project uses the stunning venues of Caerphilly Castle and the Winding House Museum in New Tredegar, with school visits available every Tuesday and Wednesday from October 2008 onwards.

The discovery visits provide Key Stage 2 history and curriculum Cymreig learning opportunities within the National Curriculum in Wales and help to instill a sense of place and heritage.

Castle life

The two site visits take place in one day starting at either the castle or the museum. The children are introduced to the Anglo-Norman marcher lord, Gilbert de Clare, at Caerphilly Castle and then welcomed by a costumed interpreter before being taken to the Great Hall. There, children are invited to dress in period work wear and prepare the hall for a grand post-hunt feast by setting and dressing tables. Children are also given the opportunity to discover the food of the period, how people ate, sitting arrangements and rules, learn about manners and etiquette and entertainment and even find out what happens to the leftovers!

Local history

The second location is the newly opened Winding House museum in New Tredegar. The Museum tells the history of the County Borough from its first inhabitants to the present day — from the Celts and the Romans, to Castles, Cavaliers and the Industrial Revolution. Children will also get a chance to investigate the roles of six characters in the court of a Welsh prince, using artefacts, games, and images.

History Co-ordinator at Plas y Felin Primary School, Marie Elaine Morgan, said, “I think the education project at the castle is wonderful… When children see something being brought to life, that’s when they learn and understand and I think the discovery visits are an ideal way for the children to learn about the local heritage.”

Visitor’s information

School bookings must be made directly with the Winding House Museum a minimum of three weeks in advance. A charge of £5 per child is levied for the whole day Age of the Princes visit. Welsh language sessions will be available for the Caerphilly Castle sessions on the first Tuesday of each month, requests for the sessions to be conducted in Welsh must be made at time of booking.

For more information, visit the Learning and Discovery section of the Cadw website — the Welsh Assembly Government’s historic environment division.