In this article Year 3 students at Geddington Primary School use the town's Eleanor Cross to study their local history. In any place there will be opportunities to carry out a similar project using a local landmark as a window into an area's history. What could you use?
Geddington's story...
As an eco school, part of our aim is to encourage everyone in our community to care for the environment. When English Heritage asked us whether we would like to watch over the Eleanor Cross, the obvious answer was, 'Yes!' The school now works as the eyes and ears of English Heritage, monitoring the site, reporting any damage and so forth.
Geddington Primary School students gather around the Eleanor Cross during May Day celebrations © Sue Spooner
Why is the Eleanor Cross so important?
Built as a memorial to the wife of Edward I, Queen Eleanor (who died in 1290), the cross is the best preserved of the three surviving Eleanor Crosses (originally 11 were erected). The crosses were placed where her funeral cortège stopped on its journey to Westminster Abbey. The Eleanor Cross is in the heart of our village in more ways than one – not only is it a focus for the local community but it also sits at the centre of Geddington’s cross-curricular teaching and learning.
How is the project relevant to the curriculum?
In year 3 students discover the history of the village with a particular focus on Edward I and Queen Eleanor who had a royal hunting lodge in Geddington. Most areas of the curriculum become intertwined in this study, including the following links:
History – The king’s door in our church is opened specially to enable students to walk in the footsteps of Eleanor and Edward, imagining the royal couple coming out of church and crossing to the hunting lodge. One year 3 class approached senior citizens, whose bungalows were built on the site of the hunting lodge, to ask permission to conduct a small archaeological dig in their flowerbeds to search for evidence. Nearby Rockingham Castle is also visited because of its strong links with Edward and Eleanor.
English – Work has included research using old documents, artefacts and the internet, re-enacting the arrival of Eleanor’s body in Geddington and role-play as the statue of Eleanor to enact changes in the village since 1290.
Maths – We have used the project to calculate the passage of time, estimate, measure and compare heights to identify shapes and patterns.
Geography – A geography link is made using maps and plans of the local area.
Music – Students have composed and performed the 'Ballad of Eleanor and Edward'.
Design and technology – One group used the old plan of the hunting lodge to build a model.
Art and design – Students have painted a portrait of Eleanor or Edward and designed wallpaper for Eleanor’s room in Rockingham Castle.
Eleanor Cross, Geddington © English Heritage photo library
During our May celebrations, the May Queen, alongside her consort, is crowned on the steps of the Eleanor Cross by an invited friend of the school. For 20 minutes, three roads are blocked as the whole community gathers to watch. Afterwards, everyone proceeds to the school playground for a programme of maypole and traditional country dances.
The Eleanor Cross sits at the centre of cross-curricular teaching at Geddington Primary and also has a pivotal role in bringing together the local community and underlining the importance of local history.
