Medieval London AD 410-1558
Find and discuss: Adult prompts to inspire
discussion with primary school children
This will help you find some key objects and displays, but please be guided
by your pupils. Discuss the things they find interesting.
The questions on the back can be used as starting points for discussion.
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© Museum of London 2015. This sheet is designed to be edited by teachers.
The museum cannot take responsibility for edited content.
Medieval London AD 410-1558
Find and discuss: Adult prompts to inspire
discussion with primary school children
Questions to help discussion:
Introduction
 Discuss at the timeline and introductory AV table at beginning of the gallery.
 How much did London change from Saxon settlement in AD 410 through to the
Tudors in the 1500s? (For instance how much did the population grow?)
 Can you find your own local area? Was it settled at this time?
Saxons, Vikings and Normans
 Explore the Saxon house. Read the information sheet about how archaeologists
built the replica. What would it have been like to live in a home like this?
 Where did the Vikings and Normans come from?
 Find the chainmail. Why was it worn? What would it feel like?
 What languages would have been spoken? (Find listening post.) How does our
language today reflect languages spoken in London in the past?
The Importance of Religion
 Why was Christianity so important to people’s lives? Not only did everyone go to
church, but many people worked for the Church. What jobs did they do?
 Look at the St Paul’s model and imagine when this was the largest building in
London? When was the first St Paul’s built?
Health, Wealth, Crafts and Trade
 What was the Black Death? (Only watch the film if your pupils enjoy a bit of gore.)
 What would it be like to go to the doctor?
 Find the ‘All that Glistens’ display: Investigate the objects and manufacturing tools.
Find an ingenious candleholder. Why was so much equipment made for horses?
Food and Clothing
 Try on the jerkin, pattens and hood. Who would have worn these clothes?
 Do you like them? What do you think of the pointed toe as a fashion statement?
 Find the cooking pots and information on what kinds of food were popular.
 Play the shopping game on the computers to find out which Tudor streets are
named after the products that were sold or made there, eg Fish Street.
Government, Literacy and Religious Change in Tudor Times
 Find portraits of Sir William Hewett (Lord Mayor of London) and Henry VIII. How
was the power of rich merchants and guilds different from that of the king?
 How did the invention of the printing press change literacy in England? Could most
people read? Do you like the lettering? Do you find it easy to read?
 What changes did Henry VIII make to religion in Britain? What were monasteries
and why were they shut down?
 What would it be like to be forced to change your religion?
© Museum of London 2015. This sheet is designed to be edited by teachers.
The museum cannot take responsibility for edited content.