Anglo-Saxons activity 7: St Eanswythe

Learning objectives
Increased knowledge and understanding of Anglo-Saxon Folkestone.

Basic forensic archaeology and conservation.

Curriculum links
KS1-2 History (Anglo-Saxons, St Eanswythe, Local History Study).
KS1-2 English (speaking and listening, role play, drama)
KS2-4 Science (forensic archaeology)

This activity involves children creating a short piece of drama based on the life of St Eanswythe.  This could be in a series of scenes inspired by different parts of her story.

These might include some of the following:

• Her early life as a Kentish Anglo-Saxon Princess
• The founding of the nunnery at Folkestone
• Her death and burial
• Miracles and sainthood
• Local people and pilgrims visiting her shrine
• The destruction of her shrine at the Reformation under henry VIII (and the hiding of her bones in the church wall)
• Discovery of her bones by Victorian builders
• Eanswythe Found! Forensic analysis of the bones in 2020 suggests they are almost certainly hers.

Children create a short piece of drama based on the life of St Eanswythe.

This can either be done as a full class activity (to perform to another class) or as a grouped activity where each group performs a scene from the life of St Eanswythe to the rest of the class.

Children can:

• research St Eanswythe
• write a script (with stage directions)
• make props and costumes
• rehearse their drama

Tip: Research script writing online to provide children with an outline and useful information on how to write a script.