woodchurch history

Archaeologists hope to find out more about what could be a 2,000-year-old warehouse over the next few weeks.
A team of 50 are taking part in the excavation of a corner of a Roman fortress in Caerleon near Newport. The dig will open a large trench over the building, which is believed to have supplied the Roman legion.
Dr Peter Guest, of Cardiff University, said: “Store buildings are a largely unknown feature of legionary fortresses.” The building’s existence was found during geophysical surveys and trial excavations last year.
It is hoped that this summer’s dig will provide a wealth of new information about the storage facilities, provisioning, and supply of Roman soldiers in Britain.
Caerleon is one of the most important Roman sites in Britain, it was one of only three permanent legionary fortresses. But excavations at the other sites in Chester and York are difficult, which makes the work at Caerleon unique.
By 74 AD, Caerleon had become the main administrative centre for the Roman army in Wales, and the site includes a bathhouse and an amphitheatre, which had a capacity for 6,000 spectators.

Pupils on the Year 7 Humanities Gifted and Talented register took part in an annual visit to Birkenhead Prior on 1st May. The pupils enjoyed a wide range of activities, enriching their knowledge of all three subject areas. Activities included a visit to see exhibits in the undercroft and working in the reconstructed scriptorium, climbing to the top of St. Mary’s Tower to study the sites of Birkenhead and Liverpool, and learning about the legend of the monks who were crushed to death after trying to save the Priory’s gold from Henry VIII! The day began and ended with a trip on the ‘Heritage Bus’ – an experience in itself.

A 1,000-year-old Viking longship is thought to have been discovered under a pub car park on Merseyside.
The ship is believed to lie beneath 6-10ft (2-3m) of clay by the Railway Inn in Meols, Wirral, where Vikings are known to have settled.
Experts believe the ship could be one of Britain’s most significant archaeological finds.
Professor Stephen Harding, of the University of Nottingham, is now seeking funds to pay for an excavation. He believes the vessel could be carefully removed and exhibited in a museum.
“Although we still don’t know what sort of vessel it is, it’s very old and it may be a transport vessel from the Viking period.

Calling Year 10 and Year 11 pupils – the following web site can help with your revision on the Medicine and Public Health Through Time unit. It includes revision activities, interactive diagrams and revision games and quizzes. There are also links to other useful sites. So click on this link and add a bit of variety to your revision.

WOODCHURCH GOES TO WAR
(MUSEUM IN MANCHESTER)

On Friday 22nd February 2008, the History Department took 40 Year 9 pupils to visit the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester. Pupils looked at exhibits from World War One and World War Two (not Mr Thompson and Mr Baker!) and examined the impact that engineering and technology have had on warfare. The very impressive ‘Big Picture Shows’ highlighted what life was like on the Home Front in World War Two, and how children have been, and continue to be affected by war. The 161 steps to the top of the Air Shard may have proved a strenuous climb (except for those who took the lift instead) but the views were worth the effort. One visitor was so impressed with our “fantastic” pupils that she asked Mr Thompson whether we were from a state school or a private school. When I said Woodchurch was a state comprehensive she appeared a little surprised. I wasn’t. As usual, our pupils were excellent and a credit to the school.

mr warren has written guides for bloggers. you can find them here (download a hard copy).

henry viii remains one of the most important monarchs to have ruled in england. his reign lasted almost four decades, during which he presided over the foundation of the church of england, a major growth in the importance of parliament, the incorporation of wales into the regular system of english local law and a major building programme which included colleges, palaces and fortresses. you can find loads of information about henry at the bbc’s excellent history site.

…to woodchurchhistory. let us know what you want to see here. we’re just getting started so things are pretty quiet at the moment. check back soon. in the meantime you could visit our sister sites: woodchurchgeography or woodchurchscience