Last week some of our Year 12 and Year 10 History students had a trip to the historical sites in Chester and Conwy. The trip enabled A level students to see physical evidence of the period they are working on for their NEAs (coursework) on the Kingdom of England from 1042 to 1307. Students could also explore aspects of the GCSE course on King Edward I, including visiting the riverbank where he set sail on conquests of Wales in 1277 and 1282. Students also visited the cathedral, which in the Norman period was a monastery, to see evidence of Norman Romanesque-style architecture, as well as the former cloisters and refectory of the medieval monastery, before walking the town walls.
In Conwy, students had a tour of the castle, which included Edward I’s own bedroom and chapel. As one of Edward I’s ‘ring of iron’ castles, Conwy castle and the associated town were instrumental in Edward’s conquest and control of Wales. Edward stayed in the castle during a siege from December 1294 to January 1295, and seeing the castle and town’s proximity to the estuary and the sea made it clear how he was re-supplied. Students enjoyed exploring the ramparts, towers, and turrets: what makes Conwy so great is how so much of it is still intact.
The day ended with ice cream from Parisella’s famous shop on the High Street, and Mr Woodward even managed to avoid being attacked by a seagull this time!
