Yesterday we braved the elements when flash floods and lowering storms lashed the country. We were not spared in the North East of England. However we put our best foot forward and set out for Grangetown in Sunderland to present out ‘Tudor Talk’ for pupils at the local Primary School.
In spite of rain soaked roads and congested traffic we reached the school in good time. It is a attractive new school by the sea with excellent modern facilities.
We presented the show in the modern and nicely appointed library.
We included a display of Tudor Underwear and costumes for Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots and not forgetting an appearance by the ever popular infamous King Henry VIII.
We chatted about the history of the Tudors and the costumes they wore.
The children particularly enjoyed our interesting facts and figures
- Henry VIII and the 800 people of his court consumed 8,200 sheep. 2,330 deer, 2,870 pigs, 1,240 oxen, 24,000 larks, and 33,000 chickens in one year.
- Henry was so fat in his later years that his bed was 4 meters wide and he needed ropes and pulleys to help him get in and out of it.
- During Henry VIII’s thirty-eight year reign, he had more than 70,000 people executed. That works out as an average of just over five every day.
- Henry had a very spoilt childhood as you might expect of a Royal Prince. So spoiled was he that he even had his own ‘whipping boy’ who was punished every time Henry did something wrong.
We included tales of the supernatural and withcraft
- Upon exhumation of Anne Boleyn in 1867 who was said to have six fingers stated no abnormalities were discovered. Her frame was described as delicate, approximately 5’3″, with finely formed, tapering fingers.
- The most famous account of Anne Boleyns ghost being seen was in 1864. Major General J.D. Dundas of the 60th Rifles regiment was quartered in the Tower of London. As he was looking out the window of his quarters, he noticed a guard below in the courtyard, in front of the lodgings where Anne had been imprisoned, behaving strangely. He appeared to challenge something, which to the General “looked like a whitish, female figure sliding towards the soldier”. The guard charged through the form with his bayonet, then fainted. Only the General’s testimony and corroboration at the court-martial saved the guard from a lengthy prison sentence for having fainted while on duty.
We also included grisly stories about the executions of both Anne Boleyn and Mary Queen of Scots which always prove to be very popular.
The pupils at Grangetown Primary School very well behaved and polite. They were both enthusiastic, attentive and answered any questions extremely well. The children were a credit to their school.
I would like to thank Kayleigh their teacher and her assistant Louise for all their help and support in presenting the talk and display. It was a pleasure to present an event at Grangetown.
The children thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon and were able to recall SO many facts!
We are currently completing some follow up work on the afternoon including a fact wall about the clothing and a report about the items.
A great afternoon – would highly recommend!
Doesn’t history cnateotrnce on the evil side of Henry VIII already? How about a variation on these possible titles? The Accidental Protestant and the Unplanned Rise of England as a Nation State The Last Fifteen Years of Henry VIII s Reign: How a Middle-aged Crisis Changed How History Would See Henry VIII’s Rule Henry VIII as a Truly Modern Machiavellian Prince
Well, his policies were certnialy affected by Catherine of Aragon’s refusal to agree to a divorce, he broke with th echurch of Rome so that he could annul their marriage and marry Anne Boleyn.Anne Boleyn’s interest in Protestantism may have influenced him, but he was against many aspects of Protestantism.Jane Seymour made a brave attempt to influence him against dissolving the monasteries, but he took no notice of her. However, she did help to bring about a reconciliation between Henry and his older daughter Mary.