Academic English: Trip to Rockingham Castle

Here at Discovery Summer Uppingham, we pride ourselves on the links between the curriculum and our local surroundings.

A view of Rockingham Castle from their website http://www.rockinghamcastle.com/

Situated just 6km down the road from Uppingham School is Rockingham Castle. Built under the instructions of William the Conqueror almost a thousand years ago and frequently used by English royalty until 450years ago, the castle has remained in the Watson family hands ever since.

The location of the castle was chosen partly because of the stunning views over the Welland Valley and also as a tactical strong point in William the conqueror's battle to assert his control over the people of his newly seized lands. Rockingham provided an important seat of government in 1095 when the Council of Rockingham was held here.

Pictured are a large group of the students from the Academic English Course in the Rockingham Castle gardens.

During the medieval period the castle hosted many royal visits and Richard the Lionheart even hosted his Scottish counterpart here. John, the brother of Richard was also a frequent visitor, taking time to go hunting in Rockingham Forest. In fact, legend has it that on his final trip North John left his treasures in the Great Hall at Rockingham and therefore the missing crown jewels from his reign are buried somewhere in the grounds at Rockingham and not in The Wash as the history books would have us believe.

Here we see Dennis and Vsevolod trying out some of the historcial armour that would have been used in the battles for power in the years gone by.
One of our students, Nessy, who happens to be an excellent pianist was even allowed to perform on the grand piano in the Long Drawing room at the castle, a privilege that very few visitors have ever been afforded. It is these kind of experiences that set Discovery Summer Uppingham apart from its rivals.