In December 2008 the heritage lottery fund announced it is to give £18,800 towards young people from Kettlebrook Pupil Referral Unit to work with Tamworth Castle on a project that will teach them about living in medieval times.

Project synopsis:

'Kettlebrook's Medieval Moments' is a partnership project between Tamworth castle and Kettlebrook Pupil Referral Unit (PRU). Kettlebrook PRU works with disaffected and excluded 11-16 year olds from the Tamworth area. 

Tamworth Castle is a Norman motte and bailey castle situated in the centre of Tamworth, the castle is intrinsic to the identity of Tamworth town and is heavily used by sectors of the local community. The Castle education team were keen to initiate a partnership with the PRU young people; to offer them the opportunity to connect with their local heritage in a positive, nurturing environment.  Following a familiarisation visit to Tamworth Castle,  young people developed the project concept of planning and performing in an exclusive medieval banquet at Tamworth castle for parents and teachers.

Introductory tour of Tamworth Castle in Sept 2008

The project will enable young people to develop a range of valuable life skills, engage in performance activities, enhance well being and reinforce study programmes conducted and delivered at the PRU.

With the supports of teachers and castle staff young people will participate in a series of 'training sessions' led by professionals in the fields of medieval costume, food, music and entertainment. The training sessions offer young people new experiences and skills in organisation, team work and the performing arts. These experiences will mould the final medieval banquet presented by the young people. A DVD will be recorded documenting the development phase and final banquet. The young people will edit and then distribute the DVD to friends, family, local schools, youth groups and LEA advisers.

Project update

The project began on February the 23rd with sword fighting at the castle. The session was led by Mark Vance a freelance re-enactor. The activity lasted the morning with all young people learning the basics of stage fighting and aspects of medieval combat. The session finished with young people rehearsing a short demonstration piece for the final banquet.

                             Sword training with mark vance

                                   Warm up for sword fighting

26.2.09:  Medieval Life workshop

The second visit to Tamworth castle involved artefact handling with medieval domestic item, arms and armour followed by a quill pen writing activity.

After a brief discussion on how to handle artefacts, young people compared and contrasted the original weapons and armour in the castle’s collection with modern replicas.  To gain an understanding of how arms and armour developed over the medieval
period young people tried on two sets of armour - one 11t^h century the other 15^th century.

Then followed a quick tour of the medieval banqueting room and a snack break.  The quill writing activity was delivered in the final part of the morning.  Initially we discussed how different writing was in the medieval period and the process of writing a medieval document.  The young people then explored extracts from period inventory’s learning how to identify letter and words.  They then used the quills with ink to write their names using the medieval alphabet.

3.3.09 – medieval costume

With a range of different garments to try on young people learnt how materials were made and dyed, how under and over garments were worn and the contrast in fashion between nobility and the lower classes.

Monday 9th march 2000: medieval music and dance

                 Practice slides

Today’s session explored medieval music and dance.  Period musicians Sue and Barry Pope (of a Merrie Noyse) delivered the workshop in partnership with Myrone Levy (of dance company Steps 8 ltd).  To offer young people a relevant reference point we combined period music and instruments with modern dance. 

                          Warm up

After a short introduction to medieval music Myrone led an improvised dance activity.  A short routine was devised and practised.  Those young people who did not participate with the dancing joined the musicians playing a range of instruments.   

Practice moves

Circus skills, March 12^th 2009

Today the young people participated in circus skills training.  The session was held at Tamworth assembly rooms and led by Paul Donegan, juggler and magician.  After a demonstration by Paul the group practised juggling, using diabolo’s, flower sticks and plate spinning. 

Monday 16th march: First Rehearsal

Wednesday 18th march: Medieval Food

Today young people investigated Medieval foods. Carole Haines, historian and education assistant at Tamworth Castle, led the morning session with Julie Barker, cookery teacher at the PRU. After sampling herbs and spices the group then tasted a range of different dishes to identify which foods will be made and served at the final banquet.  The morning finished with some young people creating march pane cakes.  The day before this workshop, Julie led a sugar fancy activity, with young people creating shapes out of coloured marzipan to decorate the serving platters.

Thursday 19^th march: Marketing

To enable young people to be involved in promoting the final banquet, Richard Finnigan Marketing Officer from Tamworth Borough Council, led a poster making activity. After discussing how to create eye catching images young people posed for photographs.  Then using the images and key text they created posters on computers

Richard Finnigan showing students how to make posters

The final banquet, Tuesday the 24^th March

Toady was the final banquet.  An excellent experience had by all. All young people arrived early for a last minute run through with the master of ceremonies (Mark Vance) and the musicians (A Merry Noyse). The majority of the food was prepared the day before allowing the cooks to concentrate on dressing the dishes on the day at the Castle. 

Attendance of families of the young people and kettlebrook PRU staff was excellent – there wasn’t a spare seat in the hall!  Each set of entertainment was performed to a high standard with skill and humour.  The audience were thoroughly involved, encouraging and supporting all performers.

The format

The banquet format was arranged with a short piece of entertainment between each food course. On arrival guests were greeted by costumed castle staff and the musicians.  The event began with a short welcome from Kirsty Sherwood, the Education Officer explaining the project, and then Mark Vance introduced all the young people and staff involved in the performance. Rachael Wanklyn, Education Assistant and project assistant, delivered the last part of the welcome introducing guests to the basic banquet rules.

The second set of entertainment included the staged sword fight and a comedy character show. The character show involved 3 young people and Kettlebrook PRU staff taking on the role of a noble knight, plague victim, a lady, an executioner and a court nobleman whilst Kirsty narrated.

The third set of entertainment began with a presentation of circus skills with spinning plates, Diablo’s and cigar box juggling. This was followed by the choreographed street dance to medieval music. As the third course of food was served, the sugar fancies young people had designed, were paraded around the hall. 

The final set of entertainment involved a short St Georges story with a fight scene between Mark Vance and one young person. The event ended with thank yous to all performers and staff. The young people presented the  cooks and castle staff with flowers – wonderful!

The final banquet exceeded all expectations – the young people did a fantastic job, working sensibly and confidently and entertaining everyone.

Certificate Ceremony, 31st march

Today was the final part of the project for the young people. This was an opportunity to thank every one involved and to recognise the hard work, commitment and skill the young people had displayed through out the 6 weeks. Councillor Mick Oates gave a short speech congratulating the young people on their achievement. Each young person was presented with a framed certificate recognising their successful completion of the different training sessions; the Friends of Tamworth Castle generously gifted free membership to each young person entitling them to free admission to the castle. The ceremony ended with Kirsty Sherwood, Education and Events Officer, thanking all the staff at the PRU for their support, encouragement and enthusiasm with particular acknowledgement to George Calloway, Deputy Head teacher who led the project at the PRU. Roger Barker, head teacher at the PRU also congratulated the young people, PRU staff and Castle Staff. 

The heritage lottery fund have made all this possible, so a big thank you to them from all of us at Tamworth.

   Kettlebrook PRU students and teachers and Tamworth Castle staff

What next?
The DVD and accompanying booklet are now being compiled and will be distributed to interested local organisations. 
The castle and PRU are already making plans for future projects, we have all had such a fantastic time getting to know each other and learning new skills we want to build on the firm foundations we have created.  So watch this space……………..

For further details about this project please contact the Education and Events Officer on heritage@tamworth.gov.uk

Project timetable