Year 7 History Independent Learning Challenge
Autumn 2015 (Foundation)
How and why did Castles change during the Middle Ages?
Introduction
This assessment is a chance for you to show off your historical skills and understanding
of how things change over time. Do the five tasks below to show you understand how and
why a castle changed during the Middle Ages.
Advice on how to get the best level you can.
 You have eight school weeks of homework to finish this work. This is a minimum of
4 hours.
 You will be given a level for this piece of work.
 You should use a wide range of sources such as textbooks, the library, the
Internet and CD ROMs but it must be your own work.
 You should start by drafting rough ideas in the back of your exercise book.
 The finished piece of work should be presented on A4 paper with your name on,
your history group, the title and Autumn Term 2015 on the front page. It can be
hand-written or word-processed. Have maps, pictures and/or diagrams (these
could be hand-drawn or downloaded) with labels to explain what they are. It can
include a model as well as written text.
 The project should be neatly presented, with clear information and labelled
illustrations.
 This project has five parts. You must finish them all.
 It might help to do one task each week. Do not wait until the night before it is due
in.
 Use correct words to describe castles. You could use the castle words sheet to
help.
 Have a conclusion at the end to give your opinions about how castles changed.
 Copies of the ILC and other useful sheets will be on School web site.
REMEMBER English skills are not just for English lessons! Please remember to use
English skills such as;
 Capital letters for the names of people and places.
 Paragraphs, Punctuation, Correct Spelling.
Your task is to write letters to give advice to Count Roger about castles. You can use
the writing frames at the end to help you if you want to.
These instructions will help you to describe how castles in England and Wales
changed over time.
These websites might be helpful.
www.schoolshistory.org.uk/motteandbaileycastles.htm
www.castlesontheweb.com
www.tower-of-london.com
www.castles-of-britain.com/castle6.htm
www.historylearningsite.co.uk/castles.htm
Part One
The year is 1067. Count Roger is a Norman Knight who has recently arrived in England.
King William the Conqueror has given Roger some land and permission to build a castle.
Roger is worried about the rebel Saxons and needs to control of the area quickly. He
thinks the best way to do this would be to build a castle He wants your expert help.
What would advise him to do?
Task: Write a letter to Roger telling him about these points:
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Where should Roger build his castle? Choose from various locations. (Use Roger’s
Castle map and “Roger’s things to think about” sheet, to help you)
Explain which site on the map you chose and why.
The type of castle he should build.
The building materials he will need.
The advantages and disadvantages (good and bad points) of this type of castle.
The dangers he might still encounter from the English. (How might they attack?)
So where will Roger build his castle? The map below shows five possible places where Roger could
build his castle.
What Did Roger need to think about?
Castles were used for many things.
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they made the local people believe that the Normans were powerful
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they were the places where people came to pay their taxes
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they were the places where people were taken who broke the law
Count Roger of Poitou was sent to control the area that we now call Lancashire. He
needed to find the best place to build his castle. The lands that he received from
William had belonged to Earl Tostig, the brother of Harold Godwinson, who had been
killed at the Battle of Stamford
These are the things Count Roger needed to think about?
1. Roger knew that he would have to build his castle quickly because the local people
were likely to want to attack him
2. This meant he needed a lot of workers.
3. His first castle was made of wood with a high fence around it for
protection.
This meant he needed a lot of wood.
4. He had to protect England from invasion from Scotland and from attackers that
might come across the sea.
5. He needed to protect himself from uprisings of the local people.
6. He needed to be able to travel, perhaps to London to see the King!
The King might need to send messages to Roger.
Part Two
Background: The year is 1100. The Normans have ruled England for almost fifty years.
You have taken over the family business of Castle Construction. The business is now
considered on of the experts on the most up to date methods in castle building and gives
advice to Barons around the country.
Thomas de Lancaster, the local Norman Baron and grandson of Count Roger, has decided
that he needs to make changes to his family castle. He has asked for your advice on how
to improve his castle.
Task: Write a report for Thomas covering the following points:
 The weaknesses of his current castle. What wrong with it?
 The changes he should make to improve it.
 The building materials he will need.
 The advantages of this new type of castle.
 The dangers he might still encounter from enemies. (How might they attack?)
 You could give examples of other castles.
Part Three
Background: The year is 1300. It is 233 years since Count Roger first built his castle.
Some English soldiers have been in the Crusades. They have brought back new ideas
about castle building.
You family business, Castle Construction, has passed down through the generations of
your family. You advise the rich and powerful on how to build and improve their castles.
The local baron, Lord Edward de Lancaster wants to make improvements to the old family
castle. He has asked you for advice on what sort of changes to make.
Task: Write a report for Edward de Lancaster covering the following points:
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The weaknesses of his current castle.
The changes he should make to improve it and the reasons why you think he needs
them.
The building materials he will need.
The advantages of this new type of castle.
The dangers he might still encounter from enemies. (How might they attack?)
Are there any new threats?
You could give examples of other castles.
Part Four
The year is 1465. The Wars of Roses are being fought in England. Both sides are using
cannons in battles. The new owner, Lord William of Lancaster, hires you to update his
castle.
Task: Write a report for Lord William covering the following points:
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The threat of gunpowder weapons.
The weaknesses of his current castle.
The changes he should make to improve it.
The new designs he will need.
The advantages of this new type of castle.
You could give examples of other castles.
Part five
The year is 1500. Lord Hugh Lancaster is now in charge of the castle. He hires you to
update the castle. What should you do?
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War is now less likely so what changes might make the castle more comfortable?
The advantages of this new type of castle.
You could give examples of other castles.
The dangers he might still encounter from enemies. (How might they attack?)
Task: Write a report for Lord Hugh to show how the castle could be changed.
Writing Frames to Help
You could use these ideas to help you write the homework but include as much detail
as you can.
Task 1
Dear Count Roger,
Thank you for asking me to help you. Our first job is to decide where to build the
castle.
I think you should build your castle at site…
Three reasons I think you should build it here are:
You should build your castle out of…… and …. because…..
Yours faithfully,
Task 2
Dear Count Thomas,
Thank you for asking me to help you again. Your father’s castle needs to be updated
because…..
I think you should rebuild your castle out of ……. This would better because…..
Clues:
•Wood rots quickly (stone does not)
•Wood burns (stone does not)
•Wood is not as strong as stone
The latest style is called a ……
Yours faithfully,
Task 3
Dear Lord Edward,
Thank you for asking me to help you again. Your castle needs to be updated
because…..
I think you should update your castle by building extra…. This would better
because….. This is the latest style from…
The latest style is called a ……
Yours faithfully,
Task 4
Dear Lord William,
Thank you for asking me to help your family again. Your castle needs to be updated
because…..
I think you should rebuild your castle out of ……. This would better because…..
The latest style is called a ……
Yours faithfully,
Task 5
Dear Lord Hugh,
Thank you for asking me to help your family again. Your castle needs to be updated
because…..
I think you should rebuild your castle out of ……. This would better because…..
The latest style is called a ……
Yours faithfully,
These are the level descriptors which help you to reach the best level that you can.
Target: Historical enquiry. To answer the above question using information
selected from the past and to make decisions based on this information.
Level 2
You should be able to explain how people decided where to build their castles.
Level 3
You should be able to use more than one piece of information to help decide
where a castle could be built and how it changed over time.
Level 4
You should be able to say what Count Roger needs to think about before he builds
his castle backed up with information from different sources. You are able to
describe characteristic features of past societies to identify change and
continuity within and across different period.
Level 5
You should be able to use what you know about where castles were built and why
to make a decision about where Count Roger should build his castle.
You should begin to recognise and describe change and continuity.