Explore Lewes Castle & Museum with our range of curriculum link learning offers
Lewes Castle dates to the time of William the Conqueror. In 1264 it was the setting for one of the most important battles in medieval England – when King Henry III was defeated by the Earl of Leicester Simon de Montfort.
The adjacent museum illustrates the fascinating history of Lewes. Over the last 1,500 years the town has been an Anglo-Saxon settlement on the front-line of Alfred the Great’s war with the Vikings; has witnessed religious turmoil during the reigns of Henry VIII and Queen Mary I; and civil war during the time of King Charles I. Lewes was a source of inspiration for the American War of Independence and the French Revolution; and the setting for Britain’s worst ever avalanche in 1836.
School visits to Lewes Castle and Museum
Lewes Castle was one of the first castles built after 1066 making it a great place for schools in Sussex and the South East to learn about the Norman Conquest and local history.
What we offer
– Interactive actor-led workshops and tours for Key Stages 1 to 3, and SEND
– Activity trails tailored by Key Stage and aligned to the National Curriculum
– Exclusive access for your group to the Lewes Town Model audio-visual presentation
– Free time to explore the castle and museum
Bookable School Workshops at Lewes Castle
The following workshops are bookable in addition to general admission and are led by drama and education company, Spectrum Theatre.
Key Stage 1
Key Stage 2
Key Stage 3
Actor-led tour of the Lewes Castle Workshop – The Anglo-Saxon Story-teller
Actor-led tour of the Lewes Castle Workshop – The Story of Beowulf Workshop – The Black Death Comes to Lewes