Free learning resources from arts, cultural and heritage organisations.

Teachers' Notes

Resource created by Kirklees Museums and Galleries

This resource explores the history and heritage of the Kirklees area during the Early Middle Ages, focusing on how life changed after the Romans left Britain. It traces the development of the local Celtic kingdom of Elmet, the arrival of Anglo-Saxon and later Viking settlers, and how these cultures shaped the landscape, language, religion, and communities of West Yorkshire. 

 

Curriculum links:

KS2 History: “Britain’s settlement by Anglo-Saxons” and “the Viking and Anglo-Saxon struggle for the Kingdom of England” 

 

Context: 

After the Romans left Britain around 410 AD, life in many parts of the country changed significantly. In regions like West Yorkshire, small kingdoms such as Elmet emerged, where people maintained older traditions and faiths, including Christianity introduced during Roman times. These early communities were often rural, living in farming villages and following customs passed down through generations. 

By the early 600s, powerful early Medieval kingdoms expanded their control. The people, initially pagans, gradually converted to Christianity, which influenced daily life and led to the building of churches and religious monuments. During this period, carved stone crosses and grave markers became common, often commemorating important local leaders. These artiifacts, found near later churches, show how religion became a central part of community life. 

From the late 800s, Vikings began to settle in parts of England, including Yorkshire. While their settlements were more concentrated in some areas like York, their influence reached further afield. Vikings were farmers, traders, and craftsmen who left their mark on local culture and language. Many place names in the region, derived from Old Norse, reflect this lasting impact. Together, Early Medieval and Viking cultures shaped the early medieval landscape and communities of West Yorkshire. 

 

Learning objectives:  

  • Know key facts about the Early Middle Ages and Viking periods in early medieval Britain. 
  • Identify examples of Early Middle Ages and Viking heritage in local place names and archaeological finds. 
  • Describe daily life, including religion, farming, and community living, during the Early Middle Ages and Viking periods. 

 

Discussion and Activity Ideas: 

  • Literacy: Describe life in Early Middle Ages in Kirklees 
  • Reading: As a class, read Anglo-Saxon Boy by Tony Bradman 
  • Disciplinary Skills: Use a map to study local place names and research their origins 
  • Art: Create a model of an Early Middle Ages Wattle and Daub house. Use natural materials like sticks and clay if possible 

Heritage is… 

  • Citizenship: How did people contribute to their communities through farming, crafts, or religion? 
  • Democracy: How do you think decisions were made Early Medieval communities? Was there any form of leadership or group decision-making? 
  • British Values: Which British values (e.g., respect, tolerance, rule of law) can you see roots of in these early societies? 
  • EDI: Do people have a right to keep their own language and culture, even if others speak differently? 
  • Health: What challenges might people have faced in staying healthy in the Early Medieval period? 
  • Religion and Ethics: What values or beliefs might have shaped how they treated each other and their environment? 
  • SRE: Did people in early medieval villages have stronger communities because everyone knew each other personally? 
  • PHSE: Is it fair to expect everyone to contribute the same amount of work to a group? 
  • Climate: What impact does farming have on the local environment? 
  • Careers: What apprenticeships are available to people today? 
  • Social Action: Organise a campaign to collect and send essential supplies or support to refugees and families affected by war in your local or global community 

 

Organisation URL: https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/museums-and-galleries/index.aspx 

 

Glossary: 

Anglo-Saxons – A term used to describe the combined peoples of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes who settled in England between the 5th and 11th centuries. 

Brigantes - A Celtic tribe who lived in northern England before and during Roman times. 

Danelaw - An area of England under Viking control during the 9th and 10th centuries, including parts of Yorkshire, the East Midlands, and East Anglia. 

Domesday Book - A detailed record of land and property in England completed in 1086, providing information about land ownership and settlements. 

Elmet - A small kingdom in what is now West Yorkshire, lasting from the end of Roman rule until the Early Medieval period. 

Pagans - People who followed traditional, pre-Christian religions before converting to Christianity. 

The Dark Ages - A term used to describe the period after Roman Britain when central government collapsed, and Britain saw migrations and cultural changes.