Year 7 Experience The Peasant’s Revolt

The year 1381 embodied many a trial and tribulation for the peoples of Wymondham, as it was the year of the Peasant’s Revolt. A great debate ensued within the peoples of the small market town over whether to join Geoffrey Lister in his local revolt in North Walsham or to stay loyal to the King, Richard II, trusting in the word of Henry le Dispenser, the Bishop of Norwich. Our year 7’s had to decipher which of these individuals they would join via their previous knowledge on the Poll tax and the information of a group of pilgrims staying at the Abbey before embarking to Walsingham. Over the two days of the trip, the year 7s questioned locals of the town, a storyteller, draper, soldier, musician, gunner, builder, jester, falconer and archer.

The locals proved to be a favourite of the students, possibly due to their education from the cook on delicacies such as honey and slug slime and the ‘cheesy farts’ that might come of its consumption. Although the students learnt a great deal about what would nowadays be seen as somewhat disgusting food, they also were shown the skills of writing with a quill, the use of herbs in cooking foods such as pottage, and the creation of items out of sugar. Near the tents of the locals were the revels of a storyteller telling the tale of William the Conqueror and his three sons, in this activity the students had the opportunity to tell an array of ingenious, ridiculous and overall amusing riddles. The draper allowed the students to exude their 14th century swagger, wearing clothes ranging from that of the peasantry all the way to nobility. In particular, the discovery of codpieces seemed rather amusing to all. Inside the Abbey the least of assuming figures for a holy place stood, that being the soldier, a hardened man with a daunting collection of medieval weapons and armour, ranging from the crudely named bollock dagger to the crossbow, used to keep enemies, and year 7s, in check. Harmonious music was to be heard closer to the entrance of the abbey from the musician, who taught of the lute, the flageolet, the crumhorn and many more instruments. In every corner of the Abbey one sound was heard overall, that being the boom of a medieval gun, a two manned weapon of might. Although dangerous in battle, the weapon proved rather entertaining for the students to watch be fired with black powder into the adjacent field. The builder near by the gunner taught the students the creation of a building like the abbey, showing a very interesting insight into medieval carpentry and the tools they used proving as a great reason why no matter what we all say during high school, maths is useful in later life. Anarchy was rife within the Jester’s activity when the students began to mock and mimic the bishop’s odd mannerisms, that proved to create a humorous atmosphere when partnered with silly games, just be sure not to call the jester a clown otherwise the mood would be rather soured. The Ger Hawk of the falconer showed the sheer impressiveness of the medieval sport, especially when contrasted with the falconers somewhat self-destructive Kestrel. The most physical of activities year 7 partook in was that of archery, in which many showed themselves to be remarkable marksmen. Arguably the most impressive thing about the Archery was the knowledge learnt of the sheer draw weight of the bows, with some going up to a couple hundred pounds.

The end of two-day trip also marked the end of the debate, in which it seemed that Year 7 had struck up somewhat of a rebellious mood, with many cheering for the proposition by Geoffrey Lister to fight. The trip proved to be “a mix of fun and education” for year 7 with one reporting that “there is only one thing I would change, that is only to be at the abbey longer”. The students “felt like they were in 1381” by the end of the trip and found it to be an “amazing experience” that they would “highly recommend for upcoming year 7s!”.

Written by Ned, Year 13.