Kryal Castle Excursion

On the 28th of April, 8J went to Kryal Castle. The experience was very enjoyable, and I would gladly go on it again. When we arrived and the staff opened the door for the class, the inside looked amazing, it felt very medieval. We started the day with a brief overview of the place, and we got to see all the different rooms throughout the excursion. 

For the first activity, we did leatherwork, where we had a slip of leather and got to stamp letters. For the second activity, we went down to a battleground and got to use a battering ram to break down the doors of a base. Then we got to look at a trebuchet and what it was used for. After, we went to a room with armour and all different kinds of weapons. Then we had lunch and got to see the animals and a lolly shop. 

After lunch, we went looking for herbs and we went to another room and crushed the herbs with a mortar and pestle. And before we left, the staff picked a few of the students to do a play on how taxes work and the peasants were trying to start a revolt and overthrow the government. Overall it was an amazing experience and I’m really grateful I could go on this trip.

Evan 8J

During the Kryal castle experience we dived deeper into the medieval times and explored many new things. We ventured into peasant life and focused on the issues they faced during those times. We were given more explicit information about the black plague during the session of the apothecaries while also making remedies from herbs. We learnt about different armours and weapons, and how effective they are during battle. Overall wonderful experience that was filled with excitement and joy and left a memorable memory. We left Kryal castle with newfound knowledge to apply for our project. 

Akshita 8J

On the 28th of April we went to Kryal castle. At this location we learnt many ideas of medieval times. As we arrived at this location we were escorted to some sort of building where we were allowed to put our bags down. First of all, we went to a leather making workshop to make our very own custom tags. We first soaked a piece of leather and then we stamped it using letters. 

The very next thing we do was a siege walk through. One group at a time was allowed to run a battering ram into a wooden wall. From this we learnt how people would carry out a siege on a medieval manor back in the day. 

After this we were shown a trebuchet, and we were taught how they worked. After we did this, we were allowed on a lunch where we were allowed to explore the manor. Once we came back from this break, we went to an herb grinding station and we collected some herbs and started grinding them into some sort of a green paste. 

Once this activity was finished, we went to the original building, and we were taught about hierarchies and peasant revolts in medieval time. This was the last activity sadly as we eventually ran out of time.

Harsh 8J

During Kryal Castle I participated in a series of activities that not only broadened my knowledge of the black plague and society during the Middle Ages, but also provided an enjoyable experience that I can remember.

My class started the day off with Leather works where we were given a piece of leather to customise to our own design. I carved my initials along with a deer. This activity was very fun and was a new experience for me. After this, we were divided into 2 teams and learned how a castle was attacked. During this activity, we utilised a battering ram and worked together as a team to break through a door.

We were then taken to a table with an assortment of armour laid out where we learnt about the uses and got to try some on. 

My class was taught about the different weapons and what armour can protect us from them.

Next, we picked herbs from different bushes and grinded them to create herbal medicine which was used in the middle ages to treat sicknesses. Also, this opportunity was used for us to learn about the black death, certain treatments, and their effectiveness.

Finally, we learnt how taxes would work and who was in charge of them. The class was told about the social hierarchy by roleplaying using selected students.

Overall, I feel this was a great way to learn about the lifestyle of different social classes in the middle ages and am grateful for the opportunity to experience this.

Arianne Robles 8J