Royalists and Roundheads was a heritage and animation project that enabled young people from across Herefordshire to explore one of the most violent, bloody and dramatic periods in English history.

Working with filmmakers from Rural Media, Herefordshire Archaeology and The History Squad young people from Lord Scudamore, Goodrich, Ewyas Harold and Luston Primary Schools all visited Civil War sites close to their schools. Tours of some of the better-known Civil War sites in the county, such as Goodrich Castle, were undertaken, along with visits to largely overlooked sites, including the remains of the Scottish Army’s trenches that can still be seen on the Bishop’s Meadows in Hereford.

The History Squad then visited each school for an energetic day that included pike drilling, dressing up in Civil War uniform and the sight and smells of real muskets being fired! Then, working with an animator, each school took what they had learnt and turned it into a fabulous animation that can be found on a DVD, alongside education notes for teachers, inside a new 16 page guide book.

“Thoroughly enjoyed the multi-layered approach and the variety of learning opportunities and styles offered to the pupils. Superb organization and resourcing and great experts to move it along!” -  Ewyas Harold Primary

The project has been a huge success. The children were able to recall stories and facts as they built models and sets to create their animations. Empty fields were brought back to life with tales of battles and bloodshed. The wearing of armour, the sound of the muskets and the clash of pikes enabled them to understand what drove their communities to take different sides. The combination of different styles of teaching enabled the children to understand and appreciate the importance of the Civil War in shaping their county.

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The films have been packaged onto DVD and sit in the back of a 16 page guide book that gives an overview of the Civil War in Herefordshire, the project itself and education notes for teachers. 

“It was fantastic. A great way of teaching history in a creative style whilst learning many additional skills.” – Lord Scudamore Primary

For more further information please contact Adrian Lambert on adrianl@ruralmedia.co.uk