When setting voluntary half term holiday prep to his Year 7 class, History teacher Mr Liam Morgan did not know what to expect. It was to his great surprise and delight that one of his pupils took ‘going the extra mile’ to a whole new dimension.
After studying medieval castles and the leaders who occupied them in recent weeks, Mr Morgan offered the class the chance to design and build their own castle. William Lovatt relished the opportunity and embarked upon building a magnificent motte-and-bailey structure.
Basing his design on what he has learned during lessons and his own internet research, William first constructed the grass hill using papier-mâché, chicken wire and wood. Placing the castle on a high vantage point is crucial to keep out invading enemies.
After opting for a seven-settlement design, William enlisted the help of his family and friends. A close family friend granted him access to a state-of-the-art laser cutter to help carve out the intricate wooden structures, while William’s mother Tamsin offered a steady hand to aid construction. Sticks were sourced from Swiss Farm to create the castle border and entry bridge, with hessian-sacs used for the building roofs. The courtyard is also filled with delicate craft trees.
Mr Morgan commented: “I am hugely impressed with William’s efforts to create a castle William the Conqueror would be proud of. It is great to see he has a passion for history and I hope this continues over the years to come. William and the rest of Year 7 are now looking forward to their trip to Warwick Castle next week.”
