The site of the White Tower
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain why the White Tower's location was chosen.
Key learning points
- The site chosen for the White Tower was a strategically important one.
- The site of the White Tower made use of the old Roman walls.
- A key role for the White Tower was to control London's population.
- Two other castles were also built in London: Baynard's Castle and Montfichet's Tower.
- The White Tower was in close connection with both religious and administrative centres in London.
Keywords
Strategically - important or essential for achieving a plan or an aim
Fortification - any structure designed for defence
Legitimacy - having the right to hold power
Common misconception
Students may think that the White Tower was the only castle in Norman London.
In fact, there were two other castles in Norman London: Baynard's Castle and Montfichet's Tower.
Teacher tip
Use illustrations or maps of Norman (or Roman and Saxon) London to help students picture the site.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Complete the sentence: William’s terrifying harrying of the area around London seems to have convinced the English leadership to to him.
Q2.Complete the sentence: London was a well-defended and so Harold could have waited for William there, instead he chose to leave on 13th October to face William in the south.
Q3.Who did the Anglo-Saxon elite choose as king immediately after the Battle of Hastings?
Q4.Why did William embark on a strategic march around the southeast of England?
Q5.Why did William choose to have his coronation in Westminster Abbey?
Q6.Put the following events in chronological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which word describes being important or essential for achieving a plan or an aim?
Q2.Which word describes any structure designed for defence?
Q3.Why was the White Tower built on a bend in the River Thames?
Q4.How many castles were there in Norman London?
Q5.How tall was the White Tower?
Q6.Which two other Norman buildings allowed the White Tower to be in close connection with the religious and administrative centres of London?
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: The site of the White Tower, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: The site of the White Tower, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the White Tower unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.