Teacher Information Pack

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The medieval buildings had been replaced by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

[email protected]

or telephone 0191 235 7551

mailto:[email protected]

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


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



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


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


Create leaflets on medieval Newcastle with a

map plotting interesting sites and

archaeological finds

Newcastle under Siege


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)


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

[email protected]

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


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


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


RECONSTRUCTION OF 12TH-CENTURY CASTLE WITH 13TH-CENTURY BLACK GATE


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?

Documents

Teacher Information Pack