Kids

The Norman Conquest

Welcome to our guide to the Norman Conquest where you can learn about England’s history, discover more about our sites and find loads of fun things to watch, read and do! Here's what we've got in store for you:

Image: Illustration of a Norman feast

What's for dinner in a Norman castle?

A festive Norman feast is taking place at Sherborne Old Castle. But can you guess what’s on the Christmas lunch menu?

Feasts were important events for the Normans and they were used to celebrate special occasions like Christmas or the end of the harvest. The types of food served to people and where they were seated at the table depended on their status. Let’s join the Norman bishop Roger of Salisbury as he hosts a Christmas feast…

Join the feast

Norman Videos

MEET HENRY II'S LORD STEWARD

The Lord Steward was one of the most important people to work for the king. Watch this video to join him in the Great Tower at Dover Castle as he prepares for a visit from King Henry II.  

Find out why the Normans built Dover Castle, what working for the king is like, where the king keeps his wealth and what he has for breakfast!

Find out more

Things to make and do: get creative with our Norman themed activities

  • BATTLE OF HASTINGS WHO’S WHO?

    Can you guess who your opponent has on their card?  Download this Battle of Hastings themed guessing game to learn about the people of 1066.

  • Make a Model of the Great Tower

    Make your own model of the Great Tower at Dover Castle. Follow our easy step-by-step instructions, then display your model to impress your friends!

  • NORMAN-INSPIRED BAKING

    The Normans loved a sweet treat just like us! Download our recipe for Norman spiced date loaf and get baking with the help of a grown-up.

  • Colour your own Norman town

    Download this Norman colouring page to create your own version of our history timeline poster, using coloured pencils, pens or paints.

  • Design your own coat of arms

    Learn about the history of coats of arms including who had them, why they were used and what they looked like, before creating your own!

  • Design a Great Tower

    If you were designing a great tower like the one at Dover Castle, what would you put in it? Draw your dream tower plan with our downloadable sheet.

  • More things to make and do

    Browse our best ideas and get crafty with history.  There’s plenty to be inspired by – just follow our easy-to-use instructions to get making!

Image: young boy and girl reading the Kids Rule! Norman Conquest magazine

The Kids Rule! Guide to The Norman Conquest (Issue 16)

Read the Kids Rule! magazine online to learn about life in Norman England. Build your own motte and bailey castle, learn about the events of the Battle of Hastings and take our quiz to find out if you could have organised the Norman invasion!

This is issue 16 in our series of Kids Rule! magazines, designed to help you discover more about the past through fun facts, illustrated stories, games, puzzles and competitions.

Read Kids Rule Online
Two children reading Kids Rule! magazine

The Kids Rule! Guide to The Norman Conquest (Issue 4)

Read Kids Rule! magazine online to learn about life in Norman England, discover our Norman sites and take our quiz to find out if you could make it as a chivalrous Norman knight. 

This is issue 4 in our series of Kids Rule! magazines, designed to help you discover more about the past through fun facts, illustrated stories, games, puzzles and competitions.

Read Kids Rule Online

NORMAN SETTLEMENT POSTER: MAKE YOUR MEGA TIMELINE

We've created a series of posters showing how people lived in England through the ages, like this one showing life in a Norman settlement.

Each of the posters follows on from each other, so that when you download them all from the Kids Rule! pages, you can create your own mega timeline of English history!

Download Your Poster
'step into englands story