Year 7 trip to Caerphilly Castle

On a very cold, wet and windy Thursday, Year 7 ventured to South Wales to visit Caerphilly Castle to enhance their learning about Edward I and his castle building in Wales.

As we approached the castle, it looked suitably imposing, with huge, black walls towering above us and with the weather intermittently turning to hail. Taking shelter in the magnificent Great Hall, were given a guided tour of the castle. We walked through the fortifications, crossing the double moat and drawbridge, entering the castle through the imposing barbican complete with murder holes. We climbed the huge towers, with magnificent views of the valley around. We saw the impressive concentric rings of walls, and we were able to appreciate just how hard it would have been to attack such a castle. There were even some medieval siege engines we could try out to see how attackers tried to get in. We saw the domestic side of things too, from the Great Hall to the more private apartments. We were even able to find out about life within the castle, such as health and hygiene, education and fashion, through displays and handling artefacts.

After a well-earned lunch – and thawing out - in the Great Hall, we headed back to the coach and back to Hazlegrove and the 21st century – much more appreciative of central heating and our creature comforts!