£5 Per Pupil
- Workshop
- First World War
First World War
First World War workshop at Fort Nelson, Portsmouth - history brought to life at a Victorian fort where troops resided
British Civil Wars
September 1642. The British Civil War closes in on Portsmouth. As Parliament's siege of the city tightens, pupils step into the drama with three characters: Lord Goring, Mrs Watts and Mrs Creets.
From testing their skill at pike drill to exploring the the shadowy world of secrets and spies, this hands-on study day blends action with analysis, ideal for exploring the causes, consequences and significance of the wider conflict. Picking sides, cracking codes and feeling the war's wider stakes, pupils must choose where their loyalties lie.
Inspired by the Cromwellian cannon on display, round the day off with our free British Civil War Learning Resources — including videos, images, and audio to use to prepare or consolidate back in the classroom.
Workshop Content
Across the day, pupils will explore competing viewpoints of the Civil War led by three in-character facilitators:
- Lord Goring, the Royalist Governor of Portsmouth.
- Mrs Verity Watts, a Parliamentarian supporter.
- Mrs Agnes Creets, a local alehouse keeper drawn into espionage.
For King and Crown: Royalist command and pike drill
Pupils join Lord Goring for a fast paced look at the Royalist perspective before testing their hands at 17th-century pike drill. Learn how political tensions fed conflict and polarised communities. Physical learning that supports inclusion and engagement.
Shot, steel and tactics: Parliament's war explained
Pupils get hands-on to investigate how the war was fought, comparing the weapons and equipment of infantry and cavalry, the rise of firearms and the role of artillery. Pupils will also explore the Parliamentarian reasons for opposing the king as seen through the eyes of Mrs Watts. Perfect for building precise vocabulary around weapons, armour and tactics, ready for exam‑style explanations and extended writing.
Secrets and spies
Pupils are drawn into the shadow world of Civil War espionage, joining Mrs Creets to explore the roles women played and why they mattered. Working in teams, they will apply decoding techniques to reveal vital information and discuss how it could be used. This session connects local events to the wider Civil War story, sharpening pupils' knowledge of significance and causation.
Curriculum Focus
KS3:
- Development of Church, State and Society (1509–1745)
- Challenges to Authority and Power
- Historical Enquiry and Interpretation
GCSE:
- Pearson Edexcel: The British Civil Wars, 1640-1660
- OCR History B (Schools History Project) (9-1) Early Modern Britain c.1500- c.1750
Duration
The day consists of three 45-minute workshops and a 1-hour break for lunch. The day starts at 10am and finishes at 2pm.
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- Name and address of school, organisation, or home educated group
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- Number of pupils and number of adults
- If you require coach parking
- Any other additional information you’d like us to know (e.g special education needs)
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