Year 4 trip to Hever Castle

Year 4’s trip to Hever Castle included fun activities such as a trail around the grounds, visiting model Tudor houses and of course the gift shop!

They went on a hunt for crowns, which would give them clues to help them solve a word, which was jousting. This was fun, as they had to go all around the grounds to find the crowns, and the last crown led them into the adventure playground! Most groups figured out the word and enjoyed playing in the tower Maze, the zip wire and enjoyable play equipment.

Children were told to bring in their own packed lunch but the Pavilion restaurant served their own tomato soup and bread.

Groups were led around the model Tudor houses either by Anne Boleyn or Sir Thomas, Anne Boleyn’s father. They were very interesting and they found out that you knew how important you were depending on where you sat at a banquet. More important people sat at the end near the wall away from the draughts of the door and the less important sat near the door and the noise of the kitchen.

The castle wasn’t as big as you would imagine, but they had the change to wear cloaks and be guided around. A fact that was learnt was the portcullis would shut to trap people, and then they poured hot oil or water onto the victim’s head. Then the victim would die. When we had enjoyed this experience we entered the castle. When we entered the castle we put on cloaks to get into the mood. We saw pictures of Anne Boleyn and her sisters and other ones. We went into the kitchen and recapped on where people sat. We also went up 16 steps and entered Anne Boleyn’s bedroom. We saw a famous painting of Anne wearing her famous ‘B’ necklace. We then moved into another part and saw her prayer books. Did you know that if Anne Boleyn were seen without her necklace, nobody would know that she was Anne Boleyn? Also, if you wore purple you would be royal and if you weren’t wearing purple you weren’t royal!

Our last fact to tell is that Anne didn’t want to have her head chopped off with a blunt axe, she wanted to be beheaded with a sharp sword because she said it took less chops!

Helena Cvjetan 4T and Francesca Lamberti 4T