Striking a Saxon Coin.

For Key Stage1 and 2 History Unit 6B and C and Geography Unit 9

Welcome to Ninth Century Wessex. . .

Viking raiders led by Guthrum the Dane sweep across the South West. The ‘Summer People’ retreat to the safety of the marshes under the leadership of King Alfred ready to make their last stand. . .

Available either as an exciting hands-on classroom session to recreate the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Athelney, where King Alfred hid from the Vikings, in miniature, or experience the smoky atmosphere of a ‘Saxon Hall’ in the heart of the marshes.

Shed light on the Dark Ages! Meet Brother Edward, a Saxon monk on the run – not only is he hiding from the Vikings, but he's lost his monastery's precious jewelled pointing stick, a gift from the King!

In a typical session it will be possible to;

Discover how King Alfred hid in the marshes from the Vikings and burnt the cakes

Decorate and build your own card model of a Saxon house*

Write your name in Runes

Strike a Saxon coin

Hear the story of ‘Beowulf’, the oldest story in English – and a bit of how it was heard over a thousand years ago

All activities are fully risk assessed and firmly curriculum based.

This session is availabe at Wells and Mendip Museum;

The Balch Room at Wells and Mendip Museum contains an impressive collection of Iron Age artefacts discovered from many years of excavation at Wookey Hole caves, as well as the bones of the witch herself! The Museum is a mine of information on the development of local village settlements from prehistory to the present.

And Musgrove Willows, Westonzoyland

Musgrove Willows are leading willow growers and producers based in Westonzoyland. They supply businesses and individuals across the globe with their beautiful Somerset willow. Visitors are welcome any time to see the willow being worked on site and learn something of this important local industry.

Or in school, as a classroom session;

To conduct this session in school, the only requirement apart from a classroom, is space outside to have a small contained open fire to 'cook' over.

* This activity is not available at Musgrove Willows but will be substituted by wattling with willow.