Castle Capers for Class 3
Young students from The Queen’s School, Chester, got a real taste of medieval life during a visit to the magnificent fortress Chirk Castle in Wrexham. Completed in 1310, Chirk is the last Welsh castle from the reign of Edward I and still lived in today.
Class 3 went on the trip as part of their medieval studies. They were given the opportunity to dress up as servants before exploring the 700-year-old building. Having been told that servants who weren’t presented well were punished severely, each girl was sure to make certain her outfit was very neat.
Lily age 8 said: “I liked dressing up. I wore a farmer’s waistcoat and a hat. I would have worked in the fields with the cows so the people in the castle could have milk to drink and cheese to eat.”
After dressing up in costumes to represent both male and female members of the Myddleton family the girls danced and curtsied in the 17th century long gallery amongst the tapestries and portraits. The first Myddletons lived in the castle in the 16th century and descendents of the family still live there today.
The afternoon was spent making traditional Knot biscuits and sweet smelling posies to ward off evil smells and germs. Those who felt faint were offered the opportunity to have leeches suck offending blood out of their systems, unsurprisingly no one took up this offer.
The group also inspected the historic armour on display and were shown how a cannon was used to defend the walls. The highlight of the day, however, was a visit to the dark and dank dungeons.
Natasha age 8 said: “I enjoyed the dungeons best because it was scary in the dark when the lights were out. I felt I was like a prisoner from the olden days.”
Mrs Felicity Taylor, Headmistress of The Queen’s Lower School, said: “The day was an exceptional opportunity to discover how life in a castle felt and smelt. The girls thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”
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Photo captions: 080521 Castle Capers.jpg (Left to right): Sophie Cowell, Fiona Edge, Faye Ewert, Eloise Brown, Grace Atkins, Natasha Groome all Year 3
For more information and photos (300dpi) visit: http://www.marketingprojects.co.uk/clientpo/3/news
Press Contact: Mrs Jane Taylor, The Queen’s School, City Walls Road, Chester, CH1 2NN Tel: 01244 312078 Fax: 01244 321507 Email: jtaylor@queens.cheshire.sch.uk
Notes:
The Queen’s School, Chester, Cheshire is one of the country’s leading independent schools for girls aged 4 – 18. We have a nationally renowned reputation for academic excellence and in the latest Government league tables, published in January 2008, Queen’s A level results again placed us as the top school in Cheshire.
Our school celebrates young women and their potential. We prepare our girls to face their future with self-belief, energy and a ‘can do’ philosophy. Academic success is only one aspect of life at Queen’s and all girls are encouraged to explore their abilities, interests and passions in a wide range of extra-curricular activities. From drama, art and music to sports, community work and overseas adventures, the girls benefit from an education of the whole person, experiencing new challenges inside and outside the classroom.
At The Queen’s School, we seek to develop in each student a risk-taking spirit, leadership abilities, confidence and a love of learning. Our individual approach ensures each girl has the support she needs to thrive and succeed throughout her time here.
The school inhabits elegant Georgian and Victorian buildings, situated in a beautiful setting within walking distance of historic Chester. These surroundings prove a constant reminder of the heritage and traditional values that have shaped the school for more than 130 years.
Mrs Catherine Buckley is the headmistress of The Queen’s School with Mrs Felicity Taylor as head of the Lower School on Liverpool Road. The school has a number of bursaries available to very able students.
Past pupils include Beth Tweddle, Olympic Gymnast, Sarah Kelly, founder of the UK’s Neuromuscular Centre for muscular dystrophy and Vivienne Faull, the first woman to become Dean of an English Cathedral.
More information available from www.queens.cheshire.sch.uk/clientpo/3/news
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