Tudors offer best and worst of times

Young historians at Altrincham Preparatory School discovered that the Tudor period produced both the best of times and the worst of times. Alongside an English renaissance in culture and sport, the people also had to contend with the blood stained murders of a diseased King that sent shock waves through all levels of society.

Harry, 8, said: "Henry the Eighth was a dreadful, deadly murderer who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted." While Alec, 8, added: "The Tudors were gruesome and thought nothing of chopping off people's heads. I think we've come a long way from then."

However, the Tudors on Tour team, who normally operate from Ordsall Hall in Salford, but are on the road until a Lottery refurbishment is completed in 2011, also focused on the positive legacy.

Sam Smith, Supervisor said: "We focus on the way in which political events such as the dissolution of the monasteries and the purge of Catholics impacted on real people, with children able to meet Tudor characters from the Lord and Lady of the Manor, to the archer and the cleaner, basically considered the lowest of the low below stairs."

Sam added: "We want to show how real people lived their lives and what changes took place during their lifetimes. As well producing massive political unrest and bloodshed the Tudor period also produced many significant social advances."

APS Year 4 teacher Andy Sheppeck said: "Thankfully today's history teaching tends to focus less on which King followed which King, but on the lives of real people away from the court."

"For example the boys discovered that today's game of football had its origins in the Tudor period, when fundamentally the only rules were you couldn't use a stick and you weren't allowed to kill anyone."