Schools invited to Civil War at Boscobel House
18 – 22 June 2012
Students from throughout the West Midlands will be offered the opportunity to leave their textbooks behind and immerse themselves in one of the darkest chapters in English History at Boscobel House in Shropshire in June, as a host of re-enactors create an interactive educational experience at Colonel Bagot’s Encampment.
The event recreates a military encampment from a 17th century campaign with breathtaking accuracy, with the re-enactors spending a full week living as their Royalist counterparts would have done to give visitors an idea of the sights, sounds and even smells of life in the brutal Civil War.
“This encampment does far more than just tell a story about the political manoeuvrings during the Civil War, it enables student to connect with the real people whose lives were affected by this conflict that literally tore the country in two,” explains education manager, David Sheldon. “The event is designed for children in Key Stages 2 & 3 (ages around 7 to 13), and the re-enactors are very skilled at pitching their part of the Civil War story in a way that the pupils will never forget!”
Each day, visitors can meet Richard Bagot, a young but successful colonel of the King’s Garrison at Lichfield, and the men he has rounded up to fight for the King’s cause, watching as Bagot and his troops prepare to move out. The local surgeon will also be on hand, describing some of the unusual techniques used in the 17thcentury to deal with the ailments and injuries suffered by the soldiers!
Students will also see the Royal Oak, a descendant of perhaps the most famous tree in England in which the future Charles II hid when escaping from Parliamentarian troops. The name has since been adopted by public houses throughout the country!
The event runs each day from 11.00am to 5.00pm from Monday 18 to Friday 22 June with visits taking around two hours. Prebooking is essential by calling English Heritage’s dedicated Educational Booking team on 0870 333 0606. Admission is £3.00 per child, with adult helpers free.
A range of resources for teachers to pre-empt and follow up the visit are also available free of charge.
Boscobel House is located on a minor road from Codsall off the A5, eight miles North West of Wolverhampton and just five minutes’ drive from junction 3 of the M54. For further details, please call 01902 850244 or visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/boscobel
ENDS
For further media information, please contact:
Jay Commins – PRO English Heritage (Education)
Tel: 0113 251 5698
Mob: 07810 546567
Email: jay@fim.org.uk
