Are you thinking about a school visit to Sulgrave Manor? » The English Civil War

Visit the Manor and address some important
questions about the English Civil War

What were the causes and the consequences?

Why did Father go to war?

How did the Civil War divide families?

Who should have power and how much?

Who were the winners?

Was England 'turned upside down'?

On arrival the group will be welcomed into the Courtyard Hall and there will be a chance to get up close to a sample of some of the Manor's original documents of the time.

They will meet Obadiah Smith, a parliamentarian sequester. The group will discuss the background to the conflict.

How successful was Charles I as a monarch? Were his predecessors good rulers? Who should have power? 

 A visit to the Manor House will involve hearing about the lives of ordinary people: what happened when the sympathies of families differed? The group will need to give account of themselves to Obadiah!

They will hear about Henry Washington, up and coming Royalist Commander. They will experience the anticipation and the preparations for a visit by Amphylis Washington, wife of a 'malignant Royalist' and talk to the Cook who describes the fears and difficulties of the time and the worries about soldiers coming to take the food supplies.

Always popular is when the group will become soldiers and drill with pikes and train with swords! Before departure there will be time for reflection and the group will be invited to express their opinions about this turbulent time and their expectations of the future. 

Key words that the group will hear used during the day:

Parliament  Puritan  Monarchy  Dissenter  Sequester

"The visit has really helped the students' understanding of the period, the content just right."