Activity Sheets
History Detectives
What are Royal Charters?
The word "charter" originally meant
simply a paper or written document. A
Royal Charter is granted by the King or
Queen and gives rights or special
status to a city. Leeds was granted a
Royal Charter over 800 years ago!
In medieval Europe, cities were the
only place where it was legal to do business - and to become a city you needed
a Charter. The year a city was chartered is considered the year the city was
"founded".
Charters were also awarded for other occasion, such
granting a Coat of Arms, land or other privileges such
being able to us Royal in the title, like the Royal Opera
House or Royal Ballet. Bradford was awarded the
charter pictured for its Coat of Arms in 1847.
How to write your Charter
 Using the blank charter template fill in the gaps to write your own Charter.
 Follow the instruction and use the guide below to help you complete your
Charter
 Use your imagination to think of what you would like to grant.
© This activity sheet was created by WYAS Education Team, it is part of a series of lesson plans, activity and work sheets and supporting
documents. To find out about the other topics available or more information on the work we do in schools or with young people please visit
www.archives.wyjs.org.uk and visit the education section or email educationandoutreach@wyjs.org.uk.
Activity Sheets
1.
Who are you ordering? Is it your mum, your dad, your school, or
everybody in the country?
2.
Are you King or Queen? Or would you rather be a Lord or a Lady?
3.
Write your full name here so people know who has made the order, use
your own name or make up a name
4.
Where are you from? Your house, school, village, or invent a place.
5.
What do you want to say? Write it all here so that everyone knows
about it!
6.
Do you want to allow something to happen, award yourself more pocket
money, make brothers or sisters do your chores or order your parents to
tidy your room, be as inventive as you want.
7.
Add the day and date here
8.
Add the year here
9.
Sign your name here
10. You now need to find two people who can also sign your charter to say
that it’s genuine.
© This activity sheet was created by WYAS Education Team, it is part of a series of lesson plans, activity and work sheets and supporting
documents. To find out about the other topics available or more information on the work we do in schools or with young people please visit
www.archives.wyjs.org.uk and visit the education section or email educationandoutreach@wyjs.org.uk.