History KS3: Inside a medieval castle
Historian Ruth Goodman and archaeologists Tom Pinfold and Peter Ginn discover castle interior design and decoration, from the great hall to the toilets.
Medieval castles were not bare stone inside like today's ruins. Instead, walls were plastered and decorated with paint, while floors were tiled.
This clip is from the BBC Two series, Secrets of the Castle.
Teacher Notes
After watching this short film, pupils could study source examples of decorations similar to those shown.
They could then design their own to convey prestige or reflect the relevant uses of the castle room.
An example might be the design of the great hall to impress visiting barons and give political messages about the household of the castle.
Curriculum Notes
This series is suitable for teaching history at Key Stage 3 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and at 3rd Level in Scotland.
