The Siege of Bolingbroke Castle
In the autumn of 1643 Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire was the scene of a Civil War siege that lasted for more than a month. The Parliamentarian victories at Bolingbroke and at the nearby Battle of Winceby were decisive in securing the eventual defeat of the Royalists in the county.
siege: the act or process of surrounding a town or fortress, cutting off its supply lines and subjecting it to persistent attack with the intention of forcing surrender by its defenders and capturing it
Siege of Bolingbroke Education pack
Funded by a Local Heritage Initiative grant, the Friends of Bolingbroke Castle in collaboration with the Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire staged a major re-enactment in 2003 as part of a project to commemorate the 360th anniversary of the events of 1643. This education pack is part of the same project. It tells the story of the siege of Bolingbroke Castle and the Battle of Winceby and shows how studies of these events can be used in the school curriculum.
The Castle
An Introduction to Bolingbroke Castle
This section gives a brief description of Bolingbroke Castle and tells you a little about its history.
Causes of the Civil War
Why was there a Civil War in England?
Charles I was a very unpopular King. This section outlines the reasons for his unpopularity and describes the build-up to the Civil War.
King or Parliament?
For King or Parliament?
This section tells you about how the country was divided by the civil war. It provides information about the Royalists and the Parliamentarians and who their supporters were likely to be, and pinpoints some of the key figures in the story of the siege of Bolingbroke and the Battle of Winceby.
Weapons
Weapons
This section describes the weapons that were used during the Civil War.
Siege and Battle
Siege and the Battle of Winceby
This section tells the story of the Siege of Bolingbroke and the Battle of Winceby and shows how they were decisive in securing a Parliamentarian victory in Lincolnshire. For a more detailed account of the Civil War in the county go to www.bolingbrokecastle.com
Visiting
Planning a visit to Bolingbroke
This section gives you the information you need to plan a school visit to Bolingbroke Castle.
Educational Approaches
Educational Approaches
The study of Bolingbroke Castle, its construction, its long history and the impact it has had on the area over time, its setting and its natural environment provide a wide range of educational opportunities across the National Curriculum and at all Key Stages. However, the story of the siege of Bolingbroke and the Battle of Winceby are particularly relevant to Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 History, English, Art and Design and Geography.
Bolingbroke Castle is one of the few sites in Lincolnshire to provide an ideal opportunity for a Key Stage 3 history field visit. Work at all key stages can be based on a visit to the site or it can take place solely in the classroom. Suggestions for work based on visits are marked with the ‘bus’ image.
Siege-Of-Bolingbroke-Castle-EducationalSchool visits to Bolingbroke Castle
Visits to the castle are free of charge and although facilities on site are limited, arrangements for toilets and wet weather picnics or classroom space in the village hall can usually be made for pre-booked school parties.
If you want to find out more about the history and architecture of Bolingbroke Castle, an education pack containing more detailed information is available from the Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire. Or you can visit the Friends of Bolingbroke website at bolingbrokecastle.com