The legend of the escape of King Edward originated one afternoon half-way through the Autumn term. We had been thinking of ourselves as castle-restorers, fixing up an old ruined castle, since the first day of the new year. And had spent many hours inventing the dilapidated walls and towers and imagining ourselves with the responsibility of making it safe, restoring it to something like its former glory and opening to the public as a place to visit and learn about the past.

As part of this work, we had started to invent some of the history of the castle. The legends and tales that might have been still told be the local people. One of these legends (it emerged) was the 12th century tale of King Edward, a ruler who had taken refuge in the castle from his twin-brother, Henry. Henry, who laid claim to the throne, surrounded the castle and gave Edward an ultimatum, “Surrender, or die!”. Edward, left with only a few loyal soldiers and household servants, refused to do either and miraculously escaped from under the noses of Henry’s troops.

This whole episode was worked out in class, by the children, in an afternoon. Edward’s castle was built from tables and chairs and covered partially in  blankets. A pulley system was made from ropes of wheels and a tunnel from tables pushed together in a row. 15 of the children represented the last survivors of Edward’s retinue, the rest of the class were Henry’s besieging army.

Messages, threats and counter-threats, were passed between the two groups using the ropes and wheels. Tension grew as it was clear the two sides had irreconcilable views. And, then, miraculously the castle fell without bloodshed as Edward and his household escaped using a tunnel and a boat. Harry, representing the king, was asked to show the rest of us how the story ended and what happened to Edward. Without using words he showed us the king still alive, years later, meeting and greeting loving and loyal subjects.