Middleham Castle Activity: Find Richard

Instructions:

You’re going to pretend to either be Anne Neville or one of Richard’s Squires (Thomas Parry or Tom Huddleston). It’s 1467, Edward IV is King, and the Earl of Warwick has just returned home and wants to speak to Richard and has asked you to find him. The only problem is, he’s disappeared somewhere in Middleham Castle. Can you help find him?

Each of the places to visit are in bold and any questions are in italics. The page is divided by *** – don’t go past these on each section until you’ve explored the previous area and think you’ve figured out where to go next!

(Parents/Supervisors – perhaps fold this page along the *** lines if you print it out, so it can be unfolded as they move on through the castle).

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The best place to start is by The Gatehouse where you enter the castle, as this is where Isabel Neville, Warwick’s eldest daughter, swore she saw Richard last. He had been out hunting with his falcon this morning, so maybe there’s a chance he just returned. You can see that his horse is still tied up where he rode over the currently empty moat. One of the stable boys will take the horse to the stables before long. It’s a bit surprising to you that Richard didn’t see to the horse himself – he normally does. He must have been in a hurry to get somewhere. But where has he gone?

Do you think you’d like to learn to ride a horse? Do you think you’d be any good at it?
- In Medieval England, the main way of getting around would be on horseback. Either that, or you’d have to get around on foot. Can you imagine having to walk everywhere if you couldn’t afford a horse?
Sometimes when medieval lords and ladies went hunting, they used birds of prey. Have you ever seen a bird of prey? If you could have one, which do you think you’d like? How many different types can you name? (See answers at the bottom of the page).

Perhaps Richard caught some prey when he was out hunting, and he’s taken it along to the kitchen to be added to the stores? Hurry along the edge of the castle past the chapel where you spend every Sunday morning for mass. You always liked the large window that overlooks the small nave of the chapel – take a moment to look up through the large window, and see where the pillars adjoin the walls.

As you get closer to the kitchen you can smell the food cooking for the midday meal…

What sort of foods do you think could be cooked up in a medieval kitchen for a midday meal?
Can you find where the three circular ovens are?

Unfortunately, however, Richard’s not here! He has, as you thought, dropped off some game he caught in the morning’s hunt; several rabbits are waiting to go into the stew for lunch. The cook says that Richard disappeared towards his rooms to change his boots, as the ones he was wearing when he came back from his ride were caked in mud. There’s a tower at Middleham that is named just for this purpose, and is where Richard’s rooms are. Can you think of where it might be?

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Good job! The Prince’s Tower is exactly where Richard’s rooms are; well done for figuring that out. In order to get there you pass by the horse mill, with the large circular grind stone in the floor. This means that the castle can grind down barley and wheat and create it’s own flour for bread, and beer to drink. Even young people drink beer, as a lot of the water isn’t clean enough to drink, and it’s safer to drink beer or wine with water in it. Which taste do you think you’d prefer?

What sort of things do you think you’d find in a medieval bedroom belonging to a prince or another noble?

If you’re pretending to be one of Richard’s squires, this is where you would sleep as well; on a pallet (a roll up bed) on the floor of his chambers. If you’re pretending to be Anne Neville, then your chambers are elsewhere in the castle, and as a child, you will share your living space with your sister, Isabel.

But Richard’s not in his bedroom either! By the looks of it, he came in and took a letter off his desk, ready to send to his brother, the King. There’s currently a messenger relaxing and eating somewhere in the castle, having arrived this morning from London bearing letters. Where do you think he might be sitting to regain his energy before setting out again?

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Excellent sleuthing! The messenger is sitting in the Great Hall, warming himself by the fire and drinking a mug of beer. You ask him if Richard has given him the letter for the King, which he has.

Can you remember the name/number of the person who was King whilst Richard was a Middleham? (Hint: It’s one of the Kings vying for the throne during the Wars of the Roses).

The Great Hall is a huge room at Middleham Castle, where all of the important gatherings took place. As you look around you can see Warwick’s knights, some with their swords still strapped to their hips. If you’re pretending to be one of Richard’s pages, you’ll have been training with a sword too – although it’ll be a while until you’ll get a full sized one for yourself. Those things are very heavy!

Finally! You hear someone call Richard’s name from above – he must be up there! You know there’s lots of stairs up to the top turret of the castle, and they can be difficult to climb when wet or when there’s lots of people about, so you better go carefully. How many steps is it to the top of the castle? It seems like so many!

You finally reach the top. You’ve always liked the view from up here. If you face the hills you can even see where the old castle was built, hundreds of years before the one you’re currently in.

Ah, there’s Richard! But he’s not alone! He’s with his brother, the King! You didn’t know the King was in Middleham at the moment. He must have come with the Earl of Warwick. That explains all those extra horses around earlier, and the different things you saw the cook preparing. There must be a feast tonight; how exciting! You quickly bow/curstey to the King and then dip your head respectively in Richard’s direction.

After running around the castle trying to find him, it’s good that you can finally deliver your message. He’ll go and find the Earl of Warwick at once. He’ll probably be in his chambers below, and it wouldn’t do to keep him waiting!

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Answers:

Question 2: Different birds of prey used in hunting:

Kestrel
Sparrow-hawk
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Hobby
(Others, not generally used for hunting include: Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Sea Eagle).

Question 3: Medieval foodstuffs that could be served at lunchtime:

Soups and stews
Lamb or beef or pork
Bread
Seasonal fruits and vegetables (no potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, oranges/lemons (unless you’re very rich!)).
Pies and pastries
Fish
Game and game birds (venison, rabbit, goose, duck etc.)

Question 5: Things you’d find in a medieval bedroom (of a prince or noble):

A four poster bed
A writing desk (with ink well, quill, vellum (a type of paper/parchment))
Candles
A chest to store clothes and other personal things
A settle or stool to sit on when not in bed
Rugs and tapestries to try and keep the floors and walls warm.
A book or two (books were very expensive – printing had only just been invented in the West, and had yet to be brought to England by Caxton. Books were a sign of wealth).

Question 6: Who was King in 1467/Whilst Richard was at Middleham? – It was his brother, King Edward IV (the fourth).

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I hope you enjoyed this activity around Middleham Castle!