Sixth Form historians visit London
Published: 06 February, 2012
As part of their studies of Tudor England, Plymouth College AS
students spent two busy days in London visiting key Tudor
sites and meeting leading historians.
The first highlight was an opportunity to examine first-hand
five hundred-year-old documents at the National Archives, including
letters written by Queen Mary, Henry VIII's will and the document
that had to be present in the monarch's absence to symbolise their
presence at a meeting.
Students then travelled across London to Hampton Court,
commandeered by Henry VIII as an official home. Here, students
cross-examined Queen Mary before touring the exhibits and state
rooms and exploring the maze.
The second day saw an early start for the Tower of London where
students explored the various exhibitions, including the crown
jewels, Tudor armour & weaponry and the wild beasts that
Henry VIII kept at the Tower, such as a polar bear that was
tied to the Tower and allowed to fish in the Thames!
The visit concluded with talks by three leading historians, not
least Dr John Guy of Cambridge University, who examined the state
of the nation in the 1560s.
The trip was a great success and will now become an annual event
for all Lower Sixth historians.