Kids

The Stuarts and The English Civil Wars

Welcome to our guide to Stuart England and the English Civil Wars, 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: 

Elizabeth Grey's marvellous medicines

Honey, lemon juice and… snail slime?

Have you ever wondered what people in the past did when they were ill? Without NHS doctors on hand to help, people looked for remedies they could prepare at home to try and make themselves feel better.

Ready with the recipes were the first celebrity cookbooks, which didn’t just include fancy dinners and desserts – they covered warts, colds, wind and more with instructions for medicinal mixtures too! Tap below to discover some cures which might just you feel worse than the illnesses they were supposed to help…

Find out more!

Smashing Stuart and Civil Wars videos

Featured: Why did England have a Civil War?

What caused a full-blown civil war during Charles I's reign? From religious opposition, the mishandling of money, to a king's unwavering belief he was chosen by God, this episode explores what happens when ruling England goes wrong.

More videos to watch

  • Meet the woodward of Boscobel House

    Discover what life was like at Boscobel House in the Stuart era, and find out how King Charles II escaped from Oliver Cromwell’s army using Boscobel’s hiding places. Then make your own mini model of the house!

  • Meet a Stuart master Horseman

    Master horseman William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle, is looking for new grooms to learn the art of manège, which has since become the sport of dressage. Watch the video to see how it’s done.

  • A Day in the Life Episode 8: Stuarts

    Watch this video to see a day in the life of Oliver, who works for the huntsman at Audley End House, a huge mansion in Essex, in 1680. 

Quiz time!

Could you follow the strict rules of a Puritan, or are you more of a fun-loving Cavalier? Would you support Oliver Cromwell or Charles I? Find out with these fun quizzes!

Image: The playing pieces on the board

Civil Wars board game: Play Roundheads vs. Cavaliers

It’s 1643 and the Civil War between the Roundheads and the Cavaliers is raging, but who will get the upper hand? Choose your side and embark on a race to the finish by becoming the first to beseige and claim all 12 English Heritage castles across the country! The fate of England is in your hands, but have you got what it takes to claim victory?

Play the game

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

Make a model of Roaring Meg!

During the Civil War, Goodrich Castle in Herefordshire was occupied by Royalists, but Parliamentarians were determined to capture it. Roaring Meg fired huge explosive shells high into the air and over the castle walls, and the defenders soon surrendered.

Fancy making your own version of Roaring Meg? Download your templates and follow the instructions in Kids Rule! magazine to create a cardboard model that fires Styrofoam balls!

Download your templates

  • Make a cavalier hat

    It wasn’t just clothes and facial hair that gave the Stuarts their distinctive look: they also wore hats with extravagant feathers. Follow this step-by-step guide to make your own stylish hat. 

  • Design a Stuart newspaper

    Design the front page of a Stuart newspaper. Learn about Stuart newspapers and read our handy hints on what to include on a newspaper front page, then create your own.

  • Colour a Stuart poster

    Download this colouring sheet to create your own version of our Stuart history timeline poster!  Get creative with coloured pencils, pens or paints to bring the scene to life.

  • More things to make and do

    Browse our best ideas and get hands-on and crafty with history – there’s plenty to be inspired by. Simply download our easy-to-use templates and instructions, and get making!

Image: Children reading Kids Rule! magazine

THE KIDS RULE! GUIDE TO the English Civil Wars (Issue 20)

Read Kids Rule! magazine online to learn about life during the English Civil Wars, who was on which side of the conflict, kings on the run and lots more!

This is issue 20 in our series of Kids Rule! magazines following the history of England. Each issue is designed to help you discover more about our properties through fun facts, illustrated stories, games, puzzles and competitions. So, what are you waiting for?

Read Kids Rule! online

THE KIDS RULE! GUIDE TO STUART ENGLAND (Issue 8)

Read Kids Rule! magazine online to learn about life in Stuart England, including who ruled and how the country was ruled, the English Civil War, kings on the run and lots more!

This is issue 8 in our series of Kids Rule! magazines following the history of England. Each issue is designed to help you discover more about our properties through fun facts, illustrated stories, games, puzzles and competitions. So, what are you waiting for?

READ KIDS RULE! ONLINE

STUART 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 Stuart England.

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