History at Bishop's Castle Primary School

As Historians we want children to enjoy enquiry, learn from and about the past, who understand chronology and who have the skills to weigh up and interpret evidence. We aim to ensure our children become critical, curious thinkers who have a sound understanding of the substantive strands which run as a thread throughout our curriculum.

In history, these strands are:

Alongside this, we have also developed our history curriculum in order to develop our children's disciplinary knowledge. This refers to knowledge about how historians and others study the past and how they construct historical claims, arguments and accounts. 

Through developing chronological understanding and the ability to communicate historically children will learn to use enquiry in order to analyse, question and compare sources of evidence including their validity. Through discussion, children will learn to interpret evidence and form views about the past being conscious of bias. 

History of Bishop's Castle

Bishop's Castle is a market town in the south west of Shropshire, England. Documented history begins in Saxon times for Bishop's Castle when Edwin Shakehead, grateful for being miraculously cured of the palsy at Saint Ethelbert's tomb in Hereford Cathedral gave part of his lands to the incumbent Bishop of Hereford. A successive Bishop of Hereford built a castle, originally a motte and bailey design, in 1087 to defend the church and village from the threat of the Welsh. In the Early Middle Ages the castle and parish were situated partly in Wales and partly in England so territorial disputes literally 'came with the territory'.

The castle was strengthened in 1167 when a square keep, and stone inner and outer bailey curtain walls were built of which a small part remains but much is hidden in the buildings around. Much of the castle had to be rebuilt after it was attacked in 1281. It was used until the 17th century, after which it fell into disrepair. The top of the motte is now used as a bowling green and the bailey is occupied by the Castle Hotel.

The layout of the town in the present day shows that originally the town was made up of 46 burgage plots which were separated by a few small lanes which have developed to be Church Street, Union Street and Station Street.

In 1249 a Royal Charter for a weekly market and an annual fair was granted. 

For more information about local history, you might like to visit some of the following places:

- BC Town Hall

- BC Library

History recommended reads:

Love all things history? Then perhaps you might like to consider reading one of my recommended reads:

Useful documents