Teachers Information Pack
Mar 08, 2016
Teachers
Information Pack
Teacher’s Introduction to Old Newcastle
WELCOME TO THE HEART OF THE CITY!
Newcastle Castle
Newcastle Castle was in serious danger of
demolition in 1847 from the development of the
railway. The Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle
upon Tyne successfully campaigned against the
proposals and saved the Castle for future
generations.
Castle Keep
Standing on the site of the Roman Pons Aelius,
the 12th-century stone keep replaced the ‘new
castle’ of 1080. As part of the important medieval
royal stronghold near the Scottish border, the
Keep later became the county prison and a home
to a beer cellar and orchard. The Keep played
host to the last royalist stronghold during the
Siege of Newcastle in 1644.
The Black Gate
Originally an important medieval gateway into
the Castle, the gatehouse was expanded in the
17th century and became a home to slum
dwellings and taverns.
Castle Garth
The medieval buildings had been replaced by
dense slum dwellings by the 18th century
including taverns, cobblers’ shops and a theatre
before they were demolished in the 19th century.
Parts of the curtain wall can still be seen today.
St Nicholas Cathedral
A church has been on this site since at least
1194 serving the growing town around the
Castle. The 15th-century lantern tower was
an important navigation point for ships on
the River Tyne. The church became a
cathedral in 1882, giving Newcastle the status
of a city.
Old Newcastle Area
Castle Stairs - Dog Leap Stairs - The Side
The Close - Quayside - Holy Jesus Hospital
Swing Bridge - Bessie Surtees House
Dean Street - Town Walls - Mosley Street
Amen Corner - High Level Bridge - Lit & Phil
TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL VISIT
Tailor your visit with a range of tours and
activities. Discuss these extras when you
make your booking.
All school groups must be accompanied by
a teacher and group sizes are restricted to
a maximum of 30 pupils.
Split your group into smaller groups to
avoid congestion and to ensure all the
group enjoy their visit.
Take care! Uneven ground and lots of
steps.
Watch out for seasonal events and
activities.
School groups can be booked by email
or telephone 0191 235 7551
To book a visit, activity and for further information, including special projects and
outreach sessions, please contact the Learning Officer,
email [email protected] or call 0191 235 7551
Teacher’s Introduction to Old Newcastle
EDUCATION TOURS AND ACTIVITIES
There is a range of pre-bookable sessions available to enrich and enhance your visit. All sessions
are half-day sessions and are flexible in content.
Re-build Newcastle Castle!
Your mission if you choose to accept it is to re-
build Newcastle Castle! Discover what you need
to build a castle with an interactive tour before
designing your very own castle! Explore the
main features of the castle, relating these to
methods of attack, defence and domestic
construction.
On the Hunt for Old Newcastle
Join us to investigate Newcastle’s past,
discovering the stories of people who lived and
worked in the Castle Garth from Roman times
to the present day. Examine real and replica
objects and use your detective skills to find
clues to piece together the past and to discover
why the area looks as it does today. This
session includes activities out of doors, unless
the weather is exceptionally bad.
KS
1
KS
2
KS
2
KS
3
Newcastle under Siege
Prepare for the storming of Newcastle in 1644!
Discover what life was like for Newcastle’s
residents during the English Civil War. Dress in
Stuart fashion and handle objects.
The KS 2 session includes an interactive quiz.
The KS 3 session includes a pupil-led debate
between Royalists and Parliamentarians.
Time Bandits
Join the Time Bandits for a special, interactive
journey of Old Newcastle. This multi-period,
hands-on ‘living history’ group has extensive
experience working with schools.
The Old Newcastle Project has a special
relationship with the Time Bandits. We can
book the Time Bandits for you.
Please note there is a charge for this activity.
KS
2
KS
3
KS
1
KS
2
KS
3
KS
4
Teacher’s Introduction to Old Newcastle
SUPPORTING YOUR VISIT
This pack includes pre- and post-visit activities to enhance your visit to Old Newcastle. There are
also resources, including a timeline and map, designed as an introduction to the site.
Re-build Newcastle Castle!
Pre visit Activities
Explore the events of 1066
Explore the general layout and purposes of a
castle
Explore war machines and, in groups, build
your own Trebuchet
Post visit Activities
Compare and contrast castles with a visit to
another local castle, such as Prudhoe Castle
Ask your pupils to write a short report
explaining why Newcastle’s location is
suitable for a castle
Build your own castle by creating models
either as individuals or in groups
On the Hunt for Old Newcastle
Pre visit Activities
Explore what archaeology is and introduce
your pupils to different periods using a
timeline Study a variety of maps showing how the
area has changed over time
Post visit Activities
Create leaflets on medieval Newcastle with a
map plotting interesting sites and
archaeological finds
Newcastle under Siege
Pre visit Activities
Explore the English Civil War and the
causes and consequences
Prepare for the debate with the worksheet
‘whose side are you on?’ (Key Stage 3)
Post visit Activities
Ask your pupils to write a creative
description about the scene in the Castle
Keep when the Scots and Parliamentarians
were attacking in 1644. This could be a
stimulus for role play.
Explore the effects of the local events of
the Civil War at Newcastle upon the
course of the war nationally.
Outreach Sessions in your school led
by the Old Newcastle Learning Team
or the Time Bandits can also be
arranged. Contact the Learning
Officer to discuss your
requirements, email
or telephone 0191 235 7551
Self led visit ideas
Use the scroll worksheet and ask your
pupils to make notes on what made the
area an ideal location for a castle, and to
assess the Castle Keep with a view of
defending or attacking it.
‘I spy’ trail of the Old Newcastle site,
designed for Key Stage 2.
Ask pupils to draw a building on the Old
Newcastle site, looking particularly at
shape. This can be adapted into a block
print back at school.
Ask pupils to create a design for a stained
glass window that shows parts of the
Castle and/or Cathedral as well as
important symbols of Newcastle (such as
coats of arms) found around the buildings.
To book a visit, activity and for further information, including special projects and
outreach sessions, please contact the Learning Officer,
email [email protected] or call 0191 235 7551
Teacher’s Introduction to Old Newcastle
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR VISIT
These are some ideas for getting the most out of your visit to Newcastle and activity ideas for self-
led visits.
Old Newcastle area
Use us as a hub to explore further tales of Old
Newcastle. Discover…
Castle Stairs - Dog Leap Stairs - The Side
The Close - Quayside - Holy Jesus Hospital
Swing Bridge - Mosley Street - Amen Corner
High Level Bridge - Dean Street - Town Walls
Bessie Surtees House - Lit & Phil Society
Make a day of it and combine your visit with…
‘Newcastle Story’ exhibition at the
Discovery Museum
‘Antiquities Collection’ at the Great North
Museum: Hancock
Walk the Town Walls
All locations are within easy walking distance.
The Hidden Newcastle app
www.hiddennewcastle.org
IPhones only
Check out the worksheets designed to
aid self-led visits at the back of this pack
Resources for Old Newcastle
TIMELINE
Newcastle England & Europe
AD43 Roman invasion of Britain
Hadrian’s Wall begun 122
Fort of Pons Aelius built in stone c.200
c.410 End of Roman rule in Britain
500-600 Anglo-Saxon kingdoms develop
Site of Pons Aelius becomes an Anglo-Saxon cemetery
c.700
787-875 Viking raids
1066 Norman invasion of Britain
The ‘New Castle’ founded 1080
The castle rebuilt in stone 1168-1178
First reference to St Nicholas Church 1194
Two fires damaged St Nicholas church c.1200
Black Gate added to the castle 1247-1250
Town walls begun 1260-1279
1296-1603 Invasion of Scotland by Edward I begins over 300 years of intermittent warfare
Work on St Nicholas Church was interrupted by the Black Death
1347-1349 Black Death
St Nicholas Church was rebuilt 1362
Newcastle becomes a county with its own sheriff
1400
Great Plague 1410
Death of Roger Thornton, the ‘Dick Whittington of Newcastle’
1429
1455-1487 Wars of the Roses
Tower and lantern crown of St Nicholas Church built
1474
Plague in Newcastle. 2000 died 1579
Queen’s Men company of actors visit Newcastle and Carlisle, including William Shakespeare
1588
1603 ‘Union of the Crowns’ (James VI of Scotland also became James I of England)
Crown on St Nicholas rebuilt 1608
1642-1651 English Civil Wars
Siege of Newcastle 1644
Charles I held prisoner in Newcastle for 8 months
1646-7
The first history of Newcastle published, Chorographia by William Grey
1649 Charles I beheaded
14 witches and a wizard were hanged on the Town Moor
1650
A disease called the ‘Jolly Rant’ killed 924 people
1675
1715 and 1745 Jacobite Rebellions
Resources for Old Newcastle
TIMELINE (cont’d)
Newcastle England & Europe
Newcastle Corporation buy the Keep and begin restoration
1810-1812
Castle Keep opens as a visitor attraction
1812
1815 Battle of Waterloo
1837-1901 Queen Victoria reigns
John Dobson restores Keep 1848
Robert Stephenson’s High Level Bridge formally opened by Queen Victoria
1850
1538 people died of cholera 1853
St Nicholas becomes a cathedral church
1882
Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne restore the Black Gate
1883-1885
Society of Antiquaries opens the Black Gate as a museum
1885-1959
1914-1918 and 1939-1945
World Wars
Archaeological excavations and restoration of Castle Keep
1960-1992
The Black Gate opens to the public 2014
Resources for Old Newcastle
RECONSTRUCTION OF 12TH-CENTURY CASTLE WITH 13TH-CENTURY BLACK GATE
Resources for Old Newcastle
RESOURCES
‘The English Civil War: whose side are you on?’ Worksheet
For Key Stage 3, this worksheet supports pupil-led exploration of the English Civil War in the
classroom prior to your visit. The session ‘Newcastle Under Siege’ includes a debate for pupils
supporting either the Royalist or Parliamentarian cause.
Self led Worksheets
Scroll Worksheet
For Key Stage 1 & 2 pupils, this worksheet proposes a self-discovery and investigative approach to
the Castle Keep. A visit to the roof of the keep is particularly useful for seeing the geography of the
landscape.
‘I spy’ Trail
A self-discovery trail booklet designed for Key Stage 2 pupils. With a flexible format, the trail can
be printed as a booklet either for the whole Old Newcastle site or for individual tours of the Castle
Keep or Cathedral.
Useful Resources
David Lovie, The Cathedral Church of St Nicholas Newcastle upon Tyne Guidebook, 2005
The Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Castle Guidebook
Frank Graham, Newcastle – A Short History and Guide, 2005
David Heslop and Zoë McAuley, Digging Deeper: The Origins of Newcastle and Gateshead, 2011
The English Civil War: whose side are you on?
Name:
Team: Royalist / Parliamentarian
Complete the boxes below for your role in the debate!
During the debate, you will be asked to read out your argument for your team.
My argument:
As a (Royalist/Parliamentarian) I argue that…
What makes this area an ideal location for a Castle?
What features of the Castle Keep help to defend soldiers from attack?