Castles: The "Hole" Story

ENGLISH HERITAGE TEACHERS KIT
ACTIVITIES
CASTLES - the hole story

An Activity for Key Stages 1 and 2
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The hole story is
FOR INSPIRING ACTIVITIES VISIT HERITAGE EXPLORER

www.heritage-explorer.co.uk
A way for teachers to engage and inspire children, as selfguided learners, through exploration of primary historical evidence. A quirky, light-hearted and non-threatening approach to castles for learners and teachers alike. A great way of discovering what castles were, how they functioned and who lived and worked in them. A resource that takes the pressure off teachers with little or no experience of castles and or history, offering an enjoyable visit for all participants.
Why are holes great?
Because they tell the story of the castle. Every castle is unique, but what they all have in common is that they have holes. Castles can be very hard to interpret. Holes are an easy way in and you will have no trouble finding, recording, thinking about, interacting with and drawing conclusions about them Holes have seen all sorts of things, from cannonballs to candles, portcullises to poo. They tell the story of your castle. By investigating the holes, you can draw out the hole story.
BOOKING AND SITE INFORMATION

W www.english-heritage.org.uk/onlinebooking E bookeducation@english-heritage.org.uk The Engine House, Fire Fly Avenue, Swindon, SN2 2EH T 0870 333 0606 F 01793 414926
ACTIVITIES

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These are the types of holes commonly found in castles. Why not print this page to help guide your groups investigation?

All photos English Heritage except this one: Richard White

ACTIVITIES

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These are the types of holes commonly found in castles. Why not print this page to help guide your groups investigation?
Putlog Holes
Holes for securing scaffolding or roof/wall timbers. Often a clue to lost floor levels.
Doorway
Exterior or interior doorways; doorholes for door-bars and bolts often present.

Well
Usually built in stone; round or square; often filled in. A vital water supply for the castle.
Moat
Ditch surrounding castle, sometimes filled with water.
Fireplace & Chimney Muzzle

The opening at the end of a gun barrel. Many cannon are loaded from this end. end Simple or decorative; some high up in a wall where an upper floor used to be.
Arrowloop
Narrow window to defend archers while shooting arrows from bows or crossbows.
Portcullis
Slides down through a hole above an entrance; stowed above in the gatehouse.
Drain Oven
Bread ovens are usually built into the corner of the fireplace.
Keyhole
For a whole variety of key sizes and reasons to be locked.
Found inside or outside buildings; used for rainwater or waste; often discharge via underground culverts or directly into moat.
Gunport
A defensive position for firing a cannon.
Murder Hole
A hole in a passageway or gateway from where defenders could shoot or pour boiling liquids.
Garderobe Shaft
People went to the toilet in this hole. It was in a closet or privy discharging into a moat.
Window
Very different to defensive holes, these can be simple or decorative.
Damage
Musket holes and breaches in walls often caused when castles were slighted in the Civil War.

ACTIVITIES

Four steps to using holes for learning at a castle
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Find Using the types-guide, send accompanied groups off to find different types of holes. Encourage fun, enthusiasm, and perhaps competition. See how many holes they can find! Record evidence Ask the children to describe each hole. They can work in groups or use their own learning style to use words, sketches, photographs, video or maps. Let them develop their skills in recording the important aspects of primary historical evidence. Think Encourage the children to think and discuss what the hole was used for. Who used it? How did they use it? Help them contextualise and relate primary evidence to their own understanding and let them develop their skills in using primary evidence. Interact Get the children to create empathy and memory with the castle and its former inhabitants by encouraging some kind of interaction. They might create a role-play or a news report; or they could act out what the serf saw through the keyhole; or describe the scene of a siege through the safety of an arrow loop. Its important that they physically interact with the castle rather than just observe. Get them to touch, feel and put their hands through the holes. Allow them to draw conclusions, however far-fetched, then discuss their conclusions. Confirm, correct and encourage. Above all, make their day out fun - and they wont even notice theyre learning!
A hole load of avenues to explore... Who could have fallen down here? Were they pushed and by whom? What's at the bottom? How important was the well? How would you get the water out? How could the enemy use the well? Do you think dragons lived in wells? Wouldn't the water have put their fire out?



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ENGLISH HERITAGE TEACHERS KIT