At Hampton Court we went to the kitchens where they roasted meat. They put meat on a spit. Whoever turned a spit would be called a ‘Spit-boy’. His face would be burnt on one side (because he sat so near the fire for so long). People who worked in the kitchen had to work in their underwear (because it was so hot).

The worksheet said: “Make your way to the Great Gatehouse and stand in front of the moat bridge. Look up at the palace.” So we looked up. The palace was beautiful. It had carved stone in different shapes and sizes. Then the worksheet said: “Henry’s coat of arms was put in a very obvious place. Can you see it?” I saw it right at the top of the palace gate.

Two men dressed as Tudors told us how to light a fire without matches and things that you normally need. What you did need was flint, steel, tinder, which is scorched cloth, and wood shavings. When I saw them I thought it wouldn’t work. It did though and it was a good way. You had to bang the flint and steel together and little red sparks would fly out. Then you had to catch the sparks in the tinder and then you would have to put the tinder into the wood shavings and a fire would start. It was exciting in the kitchens.