Youngsters dress the part to deliver history to Castle tourists

Published on Tuesday 15 June 2010 09:44

THEIR teachers tell them it was where Mary Queen of Scots sought refuge and where the grim plot to kill her lover Lord Darnley was hatched.

But for once it will be school children delivering the horrible history lessons at Craigmillar Castle to tourists from across the globe. One primary six class has been specially trained to play kings of the castle for a whole year, not to mention having their own Fringe Festival show this August.

Youngsters from Castleview Primary School are preparing themselves for a hectic summer of competing to poach visitors from the city's other castle as part of a work experience project with a difference.

They have been tasked with showing visitors around the late-14th century site, one of the best preserved medieval castles in Scotland, in full period costume recreated by Historic Scotland, as part of an experimental teaching programme this year.

Along the way the ten-year-olds will show visitors the gruesome defences that its inhabitants, the Prestons, used to fend off English attackers, including the "murder hole" from where soldiers fired arrows and poured boiling oil.

And they will explore the chamber of Mary Queen of Scots, who was protected by the Prestons on her return from France, the history of the area, as well as the Great Hall, which still hosts banquets today.

Essan Azagdhani, ten, who will play the role of Sir Simon Preston, said: "I didn't know anything about Craigmillar before but I've learnt a lot about the place that we live in. I want to be a businessman when I grow up so it's been our own little enterprise."

Classmate Tait Henratty, ten, who says he now wants to take up acting, added: "We've learnt a lot about the gruesome history, and about the murder hole and the boiling oil they used to pour on the attackers. But we've also learnt a lot about acting and it's something I'd like to go into."

Along with fulfilling their roles as guides, the pupils, who "graduate" from the training programme tomorrow, will also star in a special event at the castle on 15 August as part of the Fringe Festival.

The castle was built around 1400 by Sir John Preston's son, who was awarded the land by King Robert II. The site was the base of the Preston family, whose members acted as sheriffs of Edinburgh and Berwick, as well as being important dignitaries in the Capital.

Class teacher Gillian Pelosi said that the programme, which is taking in the whole class for the first time, had helped many of the pupils to gain confidence.

She said: "I've seen some of the ones that never talk in class really come out of their shells. We started in the classroom with the history and acting but recently we've been practising on-site."

The experience has been particularly good for star pupil Carrie-Anne Gilfillan, who recently won Edinburgh's Faye Milligan award for acting.

The ten-year-old, from Craigmillar, said: "I've learnt so much from the project and we've been able to explore everything about the castle and the area. We've also been able to do loads of acting and I'd love to play a part in a period film one day."