Wednesday, October 9

Roadschool Trip to the Poison Garden & WW2 England

 


Downtown Alnwick is full of old-world charm, from its quaint hotels and lively pubs to the cobblestoned streets running through the old city walls. Here you can venture to places such as The Chocolate Shop (yum!), found within the fortressed walls, to the famous Barter Books, found outside the walls.

Barter Books is one of the largest second-hand bookshops in Europe. The bookshop is in the Victorian-age Alnwick Railway Station, dating back to 1887. The station was in use until 1968, and was used as a storage unit during World War II. Just a few years after the station was transformed into a bookstore, the owners discovered a World War II poster from 1939 featuring the slogan, "Keep Calm and Carry On." They began reprinting the design and turned it into a global phenomenon!

Visitors to Barter Books will note that it uses a barter system (in addition to cash), where customers can exchange books for other books. It has many incredible, homey features that bibliophiles will adore, such as the open fires (in winter) and a buffet with coffee, tea, cookies, and light meals. Throughout the store, you'll find several sitting areas, including a children's room with toys. There are glass cases featuring antiquarian books (such as Darwin's 'On the Origin of Species'), and several train station features incorporated into the architecture. There is also a model train that links the various rooms!

Many of England's cities and towns have apothecary gardens — historical plots containing plants turned into treatments centuries ago by doctors, herbalists, and shamans. Most such gardens exist today to teach visitors about the history of medicine, and the Poison Garden at Alnwick Castle is one such.

"These plants can kill." That's what the gate leading into the Poison Garden says, and it's emblazoned with a skull and crossbones for good measure. Behind the bars is the deadliest garden in the world, and you can take a guided tour through it! Here you'll learn about hundreds of deadly plants as well as 100 infamous killers...

The duchess created this garden in 2005, wanting to add something unique to her garden with plants that would tell a good story. The garden's mission is to educate visitors about common (and uncommon) plants that are toxic. Children, particularly, are both educated and entertained by stories such as the "killing jars" of the Victorian era, which held laurel leaves that killed spiders or butterflies but left them intact — great for collectors.

When visiting, you'll be remanded not to smell, touch, or taste anything, though the occasional visitor faints from inhaling toxic fumes. Some of the species found in the garden include the source of strychnine, hemlock, cannabis, coca, the source of ricin, foxglove, deadly nightshade, and opium poppy.

Pick up activities and worksheets to augment your real or virtual trip in the unit study bundle below!

Explore the art, history, geography, food, and culture of England in this cross-curricular unit study….perfect for families getting ready to travel abroad or folks who want to travel via unit studies!  Each stop along the roadschooling trip covers a different facet of history and culture with unit information, resources, worksheets, activities, and more...  

YES!  I want 122 pages of FUN STUDIES!

Table of Contents:

  • o Introduction & Geography of England
  • o Portsmouth
    • o The Mary Rose & naval archaeology
  • o London
    • o The British Museum & archaeology
    • o The Wallace Collection & medieval history
    • o The Tower of London / London Bridge & the Tudors
    • o Buckingham Palace & royalty
    • o Victoria and Albert Museum & medieval art
    • o Thames / Globe Theater & Shakespeare
    • o Sherlock Holmes Museum & British Literature
    • o Abbey Road & British Invasion
  • o Leeds
    • o Royal Armouries & middle ages
  • o York
    • o Jorvik & Vikings
    • o York Castle & archaeology
  • o Haltwhistle
    • o Hadrian’s Wall & ancient Celts
    • o Vindolanda & archaeology
  • o Alnwick
    • o Alnwick Castle & architecture
    • o Poison Garden & herbs
    • o Barter Books & WW2 history
  • o Alnmouth
    • o North Sea & train history
  • o Newcastle o Segedunum & ancient Romans
  • o Tips & Tricks for Travelling in England

Wednesday, September 4

Roadschool Trip to Alnwick Castle

 



Alnwick Castle is a country home in Northumberland, and one of Great Britian's medieval heritage destinations. It has stunning architecture and is beautifully furnished, with some new detail to grab your eye around every corner. The castle's rich history is brimming with drama, intrigue, and extraordinary people. In recent years, it has also taken starring roles in a number of film and television productions, featuring as the magnificent Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey and the Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter films.

Alnwick Castle has nearly a thousand years of history to discover, with its origins dating back to the Norman period. Since 1309, its story has been intertwined with that of the Percy family, a family with a history as illustrious as the castle's own. The Percy family were powerful lords in north England, going back as far as when Henry Percy, the first Earl of Northumberland, helped to dethrone King Richard II.

During the Wars of the Roses, Alnwick was one of three Lancastrian castles, and the only one that saw combat, as most battle was based on the field. During World War II, it was home to several youth when the Newcastle Church High School for Girls was evacuated there. Today, the castle is used as both a residence and tourist site, as the Percy family still resides in the castle part of the year.

Tip, if you're going to be exploring the area for a while, at Alnwick Castle, your ticket is good for a full year!



Pick up activities and worksheets to augment your real or virtual trip in the unit study bundle below!

Explore the art, history, geography, food, and culture of England in this cross-curricular unit study….perfect for families getting ready to travel abroad or folks who want to travel via unit studies!  Each stop along the roadschooling trip covers a different facet of history and culture with unit information, resources, worksheets, activities, and more...  

YES!  I want 122 pages of FUN STUDIES!

Table of Contents:

  • o Introduction & Geography of England
  • o Portsmouth
    • o The Mary Rose & naval archaeology
  • o London
    • o The British Museum & archaeology
    • o The Wallace Collection & medieval history
    • o The Tower of London / London Bridge & the Tudors
    • o Buckingham Palace & royalty
    • o Victoria and Albert Museum & medieval art
    • o Thames / Globe Theater & Shakespeare
    • o Sherlock Holmes Museum & British Literature
    • o Abbey Road & British Invasion
  • o Leeds
    • o Royal Armouries & middle ages
  • o York
    • o Jorvik & Vikings
    • o York Castle & archaeology
  • o Haltwhistle
    • o Hadrian’s Wall & ancient Celts
    • o Vindolanda & archaeology
  • o Alnwick
    • o Alnwick Castle & architecture
    • o Poison Garden & herbs
    • o Barter Books & WW2 history
  • o Alnmouth
    • o North Sea & train history
  • o Newcastle o Segedunum & ancient Romans
  • o Tips & Tricks for Travelling in England

Wednesday, August 7

Roadschool Trip to the North Sea

 



Just a few miles away from Alnwick, the little seaside town of Alnmouth has quaint village charm and the beautiful North Sea. The town was founded in the 12th century and was named Alnmouth literally as the "mouth of the River Aln." It's located on the border between England and Scotland and has been involved in various wars between the two countries...even being burnt down in the 14th century!

For a long time, this was a port town, with many different trades, but with the advent of the railroads, it transformed into a Northumbrian seaside getaway.  If you love walking or hiking, you're going to love visiting this region, which has the tidal beaches on one side and rolling countryside on the other. There are several miles of scenic footpaths that pass through a number of villages similar to Alnmouth.

Great Britain's railway history dates back to the 16th century, when wagon ways were build of straight timber rails on which carts were drawn by horses. Several of these wagons could be drawn simultaneously, allowing for greater movement of goods and supplies. In the 18th century, these were improved upon with cast iron rails and then wrought iron rails, which are used today.

The 19th century set the pattern for the modern railway system, with the world's first inner-city passenger train with scheduled services and stations. These trains carried both cargo and passengers, and were so popular that more and more lines were added. There were a multitude of small railway companies, but eventually they merged into the "Big Four," (Southern Railway, Great Western Railway, London and North Easter Railway, and London Midland Scottish Railway) which ran the industry until the late 1940s.

During World War II, the Big Four worked together and operated as one company, assisting with the war effort. It was after this that the British government brought railways back into the public sector, and they have been a primary form of transportation in the region since. However, the network has been severely disrupted many times since the mid 2010s, with industrial actions and rail strikes wreaking havoc on traveler transit.

Pick up activities and worksheets to augment your real or virtual trip in the unit study bundle below!

Explore the art, history, geography, food, and culture of England in this cross-curricular unit study….perfect for families getting ready to travel abroad or folks who want to travel via unit studies!  Each stop along the roadschooling trip covers a different facet of history and culture with unit information, resources, worksheets, activities, and more...  

YES!  I want 122 pages of FUN STUDIES!

Table of Contents:

  • o Introduction & Geography of England
  • o Portsmouth
    • o The Mary Rose & naval archaeology
  • o London
    • o The British Museum & archaeology
    • o The Wallace Collection & medieval history
    • o The Tower of London / London Bridge & the Tudors
    • o Buckingham Palace & royalty
    • o Victoria and Albert Museum & medieval art
    • o Thames / Globe Theater & Shakespeare
    • o Sherlock Holmes Museum & British Literature
    • o Abbey Road & British Invasion
  • o Leeds
    • o Royal Armouries & middle ages
  • o York
    • o Jorvik & Vikings
    • o York Castle & archaeology
  • o Haltwhistle
    • o Hadrian’s Wall & ancient Celts
    • o Vindolanda & archaeology
  • o Alnwick
    • o Alnwick Castle & architecture
    • o Poison Garden & herbs
    • o Barter Books & WW2 history
  • o Alnmouth
    • o North Sea & train history
  • o Newcastle o Segedunum & ancient Romans
  • o Tips & Tricks for Travelling in England

Saturday, July 13

The Firing Squad (review)


Summer heat brings the perfect time of year to explore new movies!  I just watched The Firing Squad, which was based on a true story that happened in 2015.  This movie is about drug dealers in Indonesia who turn into Christians while imprisoned.  These men were facing the death penalty by firing squad for being caught, and the movie is very realistic and somewhat graphic (I would not recommend it for young children).

This movie told a great story of redemption and seeing how God can change people from the worst situations once they know Christ.   The ripple effect of one person knowing Christ can be immeasurable as it filters out to those around them.  This would be a great movie for teenagers and young adults to watch, especially as a youth group activity. 

The movie stars James Barrington, Kevin Sorbo (“God’s Not Dead”, “Let There Be Light”), and Cuba Gooding, Jr. and is supported by the Marketing Teams behind 'The Passion of the Christ', 'Son of God', 'Sound of Freedom.'

The Firing Squad releases in theaters nationwide on August 2nd.  See when it's coming to a theater near you by visiting The Firing Squad website.


Wednesday, July 10

Roadschool Trip to Hadrian's Wall


Haltwhistle is located in the geographic center of Britain, and is the closest town to some of the most popular attractions on Hadrian's Wall in the Northumberland National Park. If you love to hike, or history, or both, you'll love this countryside with its sweeping moors and wooded areas. Getting here is fairly easy by train. The historic railway is still in use today Newcastle and Carlisle, on the eastern and western borders.

Built under the orders of Roman Emperor Hadrian in 122 AD, Hadrian's Wall is the most significant pile of stones in the United Kingdom. Spanning 73 miles of northern England, Northumberland holds the longest stretch of it and it rises and plunges across some of the county's most staggering landscapes.

Hadrian's Wall was one of the largest architectural projects of the ancient world. Various Roman forts scattered along the wall take you back to the Roman Empire, including excavation sites, ancient temples, and bathhouses that sit before a backdrop of beautiful landscapes.

Why was an empire based in Italy interested in controlling a region as far north as Britain? Simply put, Rome's leaders wanted the natural resources found in the area. With the various Celtic kingdoms in Britain constantly warring and shifting alliances, Rome was able to take advantage of the instability to establish a new Roman province — in the area we now know as England and Wales.

Following abuse by Roman officials, Queen Boudicca of the local Iceni people raised an army and attacked Roman London in the 60s AD. When the Roman emperor Hadrian toured Britannia sixty years later, he ordered the construction of the wall that would bear his name. The wall's location and design discouraged invasions of Britannia from the north, while allowing the Roman army to monitor the circulation of traders and travelers.

Learn more about the Roman empire with these unit studies:


Pick up activities and worksheets to augment your real or virtual trip in the unit study bundle below!

Explore the art, history, geography, food, and culture of England in this cross-curricular unit study….perfect for families getting ready to travel abroad or folks who want to travel via unit studies!  Each stop along the roadschooling trip covers a different facet of history and culture with unit information, resources, worksheets, activities, and more...  

YES!  I want 122 pages of FUN STUDIES!

Table of Contents:

  • o Introduction & Geography of England
  • o Portsmouth
    • o The Mary Rose & naval archaeology
  • o London
    • o The British Museum & archaeology
    • o The Wallace Collection & medieval history
    • o The Tower of London / London Bridge & the Tudors
    • o Buckingham Palace & royalty
    • o Victoria and Albert Museum & medieval art
    • o Thames / Globe Theater & Shakespeare
    • o Sherlock Holmes Museum & British Literature
    • o Abbey Road & British Invasion
  • o Leeds
    • o Royal Armouries & middle ages
  • o York
    • o Jorvik & Vikings
    • o York Castle & archaeology
  • o Haltwhistle
    • o Hadrian’s Wall & ancient Celts
    • o Vindolanda & archaeology
  • o Alnwick
    • o Alnwick Castle & architecture
    • o Poison Garden & herbs
    • o Barter Books & WW2 history
  • o Alnmouth
    • o North Sea & train history
  • o Newcastle o Segedunum & ancient Romans
  • o Tips & Tricks for Travelling in England

Wednesday, June 19

Roadschool Trip to Newcastle: Segedunum


Northeast England is where you'll find Wallsend (literally, "the wall's end," referencing Hadrian's Wall) and the ancient Roman fort of Segedunum. Taking a trip through time, your visit to Segedunum is greeted in two languages: English and Latin. Every sign is in both, which is fantastic for students studying the language!

This fort was used as a garrison for about three hundred years, up to the end of the 4th century. Unlike the other forts along Hadrian's Wall, it was responsible for guarding not only the fort, but the River Tyne. Its name means 'strong fort," and there were five places in the Roman empire with the Segedunum name, located in Britain, Germany, and Gaul (France).

Around the year 400, the fort was abandoned when Roman troops were recalled to the empire. The area was used as farmland until the mid 18th century, when it began to transform into the industrial town that it is today.  Today, Segedunum is the most highly-excavated fort on the wall, and there is a large observation tower overlooking the entire site. There is an original part of the wall still standing, as well as a reconstructed area.


Pick up activities and worksheets to augment your real or virtual trip in the unit study bundle below!

Explore the art, history, geography, food, and culture of England in this cross-curricular unit study….perfect for families getting ready to travel abroad or folks who want to travel via unit studies!  Each stop along the roadschooling trip covers a different facet of history and culture with unit information, resources, worksheets, activities, and more...  

YES!  I want 122 pages of FUN STUDIES!

Table of Contents:

  • o Introduction & Geography of England
  • o Portsmouth
    • o The Mary Rose & naval archaeology
  • o London
    • o The British Museum & archaeology
    • o The Wallace Collection & medieval history
    • o The Tower of London / London Bridge & the Tudors
    • o Buckingham Palace & royalty
    • o Victoria and Albert Museum & medieval art
    • o Thames / Globe Theater & Shakespeare
    • o Sherlock Holmes Museum & British Literature
    • o Abbey Road & British Invasion
  • o Leeds
    • o Royal Armouries & middle ages
  • o York
    • o Jorvik & Vikings
    • o York Castle & archaeology
  • o Haltwhistle
    • o Hadrian’s Wall & ancient Celts
    • o Vindolanda & archaeology
  • o Alnwick
    • o Alnwick Castle & architecture
    • o Poison Garden & herbs
    • o Barter Books & WW2 history
  • o Alnmouth
    • o North Sea & train history
  • o Newcastle o Segedunum & ancient Romans
  • o Tips & Tricks for Travelling in England

Wednesday, June 5

Roadschool Trip to London: London Bridge & Tower of London




Sitting on the north bank of the River Thames, the Tower of London was started in 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest. The White Tower was built by William the Conqueror and became known as a symbol of oppression. With each successive ruler, additional wards were constructed and the tower expanded.

During the Wars of the Roses, in the 15th century, the castle was besieged by the Yorks. Princes Edward V and Richard were held hostage in the tower, then eventually murdered. Check out A Loyal  Foe unit study to learn more about this intriguing story.

This castle was used as a prison from 1100 to 1952, though the height of its prison use was in the 16th and 17th centuries. During this time, political and religious prisoners were locked away, and various forms of torture, including the rack and manacles, were employed. One political prisoner at the tower was Guy Fawkes, of the infamous Gunpowder Plot.


During the first and second world wars, the tower was used again as a prison and for espionage executions. It was damaged during the Blitz, but later repaired and opened to the public; today it is World Heritage Site. Throughout history, it has also been used as an armory, treasury, home of the Royal Mint, a records office, and a menagerie (zoo). Today it is home to the Crown Jewels, which have been on display since 1669.

The tradition of housing the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London probably dates from the reign of Henry Ill, when the jewels and other quality pieces were kept nearby, where they could be pawned if quick monies were required. One of the pieces on display today is the 800 year old Coronation Spoon, St. Edward's Crown, which is traditionally placed on the monarch's head at the moment of crowning.

 

 

A few interesting notes about the tower - It is said that the ghost of Anne Boleyn haunts the White Tower, carrying her head around in her arm. Also, at least six ravens are kept in the tower at all times, with a ravenmaster. It is believed that if they are absent, the kingdom will fall!



Pick up activities and worksheets to augment your real or virtual trip in the unit study bundle below!

Explore the art, history, geography, food, and culture of England in this cross-curricular unit study….perfect for families getting ready to travel abroad or folks who want to travel via unit studies!  Each stop along the roadschooling trip covers a different facet of history and culture with unit information, resources, worksheets, activities, and more...  

YES!  I want 122 pages of FUN STUDIES!

Table of Contents:

  • o Introduction & Geography of England
  • o Portsmouth
    • o The Mary Rose & naval archaeology
  • o London
    • o The British Museum & archaeology
    • o The Wallace Collection & medieval history
    • o The Tower of London / London Bridge & the Tudors
    • o Buckingham Palace & royalty
    • o Victoria and Albert Museum & medieval art
    • o Thames / Globe Theater & Shakespeare
    • o Sherlock Holmes Museum & British Literature
    • o Abbey Road & British Invasion
  • o Leeds
    • o Royal Armouries & middle ages
  • o York
    • o Jorvik & Vikings
    • o York Castle & archaeology
  • o Haltwhistle
    • o Hadrian’s Wall & ancient Celts
    • o Vindolanda & archaeology
  • o Alnwick
    • o Alnwick Castle & architecture
    • o Poison Garden & herbs
    • o Barter Books & WW2 history
  • o Alnmouth
    • o North Sea & train history
  • o Newcastle o Segedunum & ancient Romans
  • o Tips & Tricks for Travelling in England