A Dark Tune in History - Harrison 6LG

A Dark Time in History

As we arrived at the grey stone church, thunder swept down on us. We entered the building, shaking nervously, I sat down on the cold stone benches. The Reverend stood anxiously in front of everybody. He murmured that the village had the infectious  Black Death! We had to follow these rules: bury your own dead, no more inside worship and most shocking- self guarintine! I gasped and glared at Rowland with my heart beating like a drum. A quiet chat went all around the church. One person even ran out the building because she was so shocked.

We went outside into the humid air, tears poured down both are faces. Rowland clutched me and stuttered “I’ll never leave you Emmott!”

“You have to Rowland, I don’t want to be responsible for infecting your whole village!” I exclaimed. Rowland looked dismayed; he looked at me with fear consuming his eyes. I suggested that everyday we could meet by the tree- our special tree - and wave to each over. Rowland agreed, he gave me one last tight hug and trugged off with the rain following him back to Stoney Middleton.

As weeks went by into months, people were doing some strange and - quite nasty - things. Some wondered around smelling sweet herbs like rosemary, while others whipped themselves so God wouldn’t punish them! Every few nights the whole village would have a huge bonfire to keep the evil spirits away. I didn’t believe any of these things were true but I still took part.

We were running out of supplies so neighbouring villages left all sorts of things like food and medicine by a well and we would leave money at the Boundary stone.

Nevertheless, I still missed Rowland. Everyday I would wait by the tree and wait for him to turn up. Everyday, he would turn up, but my dad was becoming more and more ill and I didn’t always have time to wave anymore. What if Rowland thought I was dead?

Just two weeks later, my father died. My heart drowned in devastation. I buried him in our tiny garden, by his favourite roses. My brother carefully carved his  name into a gravestone. Looking around, other gardens were hosting their own funerals too.

In the middle of October, 1666, the quarantine was lifted. Rowland rushed into the quiet village of Eyam. He searched everywhere for Emmott. Reverend Mompesson spotted Rowland and solemnly tried to explain that Emmott had died. Rowland’s knees fell heavily to the ground. What would he do without his beloved Emmott?

The Plague of the Dark Love - Elizabeth 6LG

                                   The Plague of the Dark Love  

 

The wind cackled and spat as the doors of the dull church swung open and echoed with a moan. I was settled into my seat with Rowland , the crowd muttered as the Reverend Mompesson demanded the villagers to his attention. Finally when the crowd was a peace , he spoke with a serious tone over the pool of innocent people ; his words soft but deep.

“Souls of Eyam ! I thank you all dearly for your accompany , I have summoned you here to warn you of the appearance of the Black Death. I have a few suggestions to help us within this crisis”. He continued.

“ Recommendation 1 : all dead shall be put to rest on their own land. Secondly , no more events in the church for even contact could put a life at risk and lastly this has been decided and you may hold your rights to doubt and be hesitant. Eyam will be put under self-quarantine.” A shocked silence drifted as the people start to leave the grey church with only the nights breeze broke the silence.

Rowland tugged me towards the side of the church with a gracious force ; a flock of villagers walked out with a sluggish pace. He looked troubled and numb for all I could see was his eyes trembled with utter sadness, I had no words to comfort him for I was scared the same as him.

“Rowland you must leave-i do hope you understand..”

“I refuse to leave you! You’re the only one i ever loved and i do not wish to lose you ! ” , his voice was shaken ; I felt him shiver in my embrace as the echoes of creatures cried into the night.

The Reverend had heard the sad commotion , he stumbled over and he patted Rowland with a deep smile.

“I do believe it is for the best young fellow the village can’t risk to stay open to the world. Do you wish for Emmott to shudder at your grave this month ? ” Rowland stared into darkness ; he gave a final embrace as his tears melted into the stone path.

It was only the first day of the plague , the first day of darkness , the first day without Rowland. Everything was stable until I saw a man - who was rather short - selling many items from a small battered crate.

“Flowers , whips and fire wood , i’ve got it all ! Brush away the evil scent of death ; frighten the evil souls that wish to corrupt your life - prove you’re sorry for your sins to the great lord ! ” He bellowed . As my father had caught the infectious illness he needed as much help possible , so I bought some flowers and blessed the man to stay well.

One dead morning , I marched towards our tree to await for Rowland , after many minutes , a small figure trotted to a rock at the bottom of the hill , my heart skipped a beat - it was Rowland.

“Rowland ! Up here !”. I chanted until he saw me , he gave a wave as I saw him place some flowers on the rock. And with that he said ,

“I'm glad you are well my love ! I wish to see you soon once again !”. And with that , he was gone.

As I marched back with some flowers and many supplies from our neighbouring village Stoney Middleton , I noticed that more people were outside , it seemed calm. Maybe it was because the deaths had slowed down   ( only 73 deaths so far ); either way I was just pleased to see my love well.

My Father , he was worse by the second , he could barely move without terrible pain. Therefore I had to spend most of my days caring for him , I couldn’t even walk into his room without a tear on my face ; I loved him too much to see him like that.

But one evening I gave him a regular kiss on his ginger head and left to grab him some flowers and food. I returned to his room, my face dropped, my heart sank ; there he lay emotionless and solemn with his eyes open and dull, his body looking pale. I stepped over to him, closed his eyes and held him tightly as I begged.

“Wake up. Father please...please. I don’t want to say goodbye…”

The pain only grew more aggressive, the clouds of blood leaked as the day came, even the cemetery couldn’t take me in ; a last flicker of day drowned into darkness - a letter of bold lay in the hand of a weary soul within a coffin of sacrifice.

The shield lifted, the birds song brushed the autumn air, people of Eyam still sunk in sorrow , but one determined soul ventured for his love.

“Emmott?”, Rowland muttered. He ran to her home, but as he arrived and caught his breath he saw two thin stones with awkwardly carved words on them. Mr Sydall and Rowland’s beloved Emmott Sydall. His tears were sharp and overflowed as if he had just seen his worst nightmare, he stared at the note left on the soft grass.

Dear Rowland,

I’m sorry that I had passed but do stay strong and give a smile. My love for you will never pass for I will send down the brightest dove with all my love from heaven above.

Yours truly,

Emmott Sydall.

When he had finished he smiled sadly.

Winter Poems by Year 5

For the Inter-House Arts Challenge this year, Y5 pupils had the theme of Winter.  These pupils chose to write a poem for you to enjoy. 

Seed Information, 1LN

Look at these amazing information sheets from children in Year 1. Wonderful joined-up handwriting.  Click on an image to enlarge it.  Please consider leaving a comment for these pupils. 

Lake District Tourist Attraction Leaflets, 4JP

Would you visit these tourist attractions?

Izy M

Jacob H

Samantha-Rose P

Tiffany R

Olivia N

Tom P

Kai M-P

Elodie W

Eva S

The River Is... Poems by 4JP

Thomas B

Sammy S

Sammy S

Olivia N

Isaac H

The Adventure of the 999 Fairy Teddies

 A child in year four has spent a lot of time writing and illustrating this lovely story.  Please leave a comment if you enjoyed it.  Click on the image to enlarge it.

The Highwayman - Billy 6LG

Longingly, I gazed out of my gleaming, glass casement, wishing for my lover to suddenly appear out of the coal-black sky. The deserted, overgrown moor was lit up by the moon, which was a ghostly galleon. Surrounded by gusty trees that were blowing gracefully in the breeze, I spied the road that he would ride.

Moments later, as I heard the tlot, tlot of the horse’s hooves, a calming, familiar rhythm danced into my ears; only my true love would sing this! As my eyes widened and sparkled, a handsome Highwayman, wearing a crimson, velvet coat, came galloping towards me. He reached out for my hand and told me his cunning plan: “I’ll be back with some fancy, yellow gold before sunrise.” I nodded as he galloped over the purple, moon-lit moor until he became out of sight to the west.

As The Highwayman trotted off, the old, murky stable wicket slowly creaked open and blood-red eyes glared suspiciously along the road where The Highwayman had ridden. I examined the never-ending, misty track and out of the thick layer of fog, a red-coat troop - King George’s soldiers - came marching to me. I was hoping that one of those figures (emerging from the mist) was The Highwayman. “I’ve been waiting all day!” I muttered, “From the early hours of the dawning to the rise of the moon and nothing!” I was furious.

As the wooden inn door creaked ajar, the red-coat troop came sneaking in. If The Highwayman comes back, he would be shot dead, wouldn’t he? I thought. “He’s innocent!” I told myself, as I silently slipped out of the shattered door: I was trying to get a better view. I spied them slurping down ale, unprofessionally. In a blink of an eye, they slammed down the transparent mug and came charging towards me. Cowering, I hid. They laid an eye on me so I slipped back into my room, bolting the door shut. “Open up!” a soldier bellowed, banging on the door until it broke. “Ey, where be The Highwayman then? ‘Ave ya seen ‘im anywhere?” I sat there speechless. Ferociously, they grabbed me by the neck and tied me against the leg of the bed with a musket for protection. Helplessly, I screamed as I saw The Highwayman come gracefully galloping back… Would this be the end?

As the ancient, wooden clock tower chimed midnight, I realised what I had to do - I had to sacrifice myself; I had to warn him with my death! With one last deep breath, a finger escaped onto the trigger of the musket. “Goodbye my precious love!” I bellowed as I pressed down the trigger. BANG! Faintly (as I saw everything slowly fade away) I caught sight of The Highwayman coming to a halt. My head was ringing. My mind was blurry. My eyes began to close but at least I had warned my love - warned him with my death...

The Highwayman - Kyira 6LG

The Highwayman

The moon glinted through my casement as I stared over the ribbon-like road, looking for the slightest move. I glared at the thin, moonlit road looking over it, patiently waiting for my love.

Suddenly, I heard the tlot-tlot ringing through my ears. “Could that be him?” I muttered to myself. A tune calmly whistled through my head, the tune only my lover would know. I opened my casement, below was The Highwayman: my lover. His golden pistol twinkled in the moonlight as we made a plan. “I shall be back with yellow gold before the morning light.”

He road away with his velvet coat waving behind him.

I didn’t see him in dawning; he didn’t come at noon. I glared eagerly out of my casement, but still nothing. I wanted to give up.

Soon later - when the sky was a tawny sunset - I saw something in the distance. My eyes squinted making a look on my face as they came closer and closer to the old inn door.

Suddenly, I heard a thump coming towards my room. The red-coats slammed the door open and stomped in front of me. They pushed me to my old, broken bedpost and tied me up to attention. “Why were they doing this?” I thought. I couldn’t move. The soldiers laughed and made fun of me, while staring carefully out of the window holding up their pistols.

Moments later, I heard a familiar sound of horse's hooves getting louder and louder. I twisted my hands to get free from the long, ichy rope. My hands were covered with sweat or blood - I didn’t know which. Suddenly, I manage to get one of my finger’s free. I made a plan. I took one last deep breath and…

BANG!

I laid in the darkness, drenched in my own red blood. My love galloped away safely - I’d warned him with my death.

Descriptive Opening - Soar - Caitlin 6CP

Descriptive Opening - Soar - Max 6CP

The Highwayman - Sienna 6MS

Bess gazed up to the night sky and watched the jewels high above glisten elegantly. She sighed whilst plaiting a dark red love knot into her soft wavy hair. Feeling down-hearted, Bess slumped on her bed and closed her eyes.

Tlot-tlot,tlot-tlot,tlot-tlot. With joy Bess looked through her casement and out in the distance, she could see a familiar silhouette of a man galloping on his horse. As the silvery moonlight slithered onto the ribbon-like road, Bess’ eyes met the Highwayman’s. The horses hooves echoed through the night as the gusty trees madly shook their spindly branches.

Her eyes glistened with excitement as she opened her shutters to meet her true love. They stared shyly at each other for a while. Everything became slow whenever she saw the highwayman. After minutes that felt like hours, he finally found the courage to speak to Bess.

“My precious angel, I’m afraid that I will not be able to be with you on this fine night.”

Bess’ smile dimmed slightly.
“But i shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light.” He laughed a friendly laugh then he kissed her hand. As he galloped away to the west, Bess blew a kiss to the Highwayman too.

The Highwayman opening - Jude 6MS

Despite being old,I still feel the shame and guilt of my past. Every night, their ghostly faces haunt my restless sleep. My once love - Bess and her love and life: the ruthless,merciless highwayman. I look back and regret my move. The memory of her long, black, smooth hair drooping over her face still reminds me of herself unwantedly. Gnawing at me, guilt is too much to handle. I try to stop it but I can’t; the story is playing over and over in my mind. The inn once my favourite - now my least…

The Highwayman Opening - Rachel 6CP

The wardrobe stood high above Bess; it was collecting dust over the years. Her narrow bed was sitting in the corner of her slate-grey room. When she looked out of her casement, the wind howled on the shutters and she saw the gusty trees waving madly. High in the sky, the moon was hanging like a ghostly galleon. Lighting up the whole heather moor, Bess could see the road her love would ride upon.

Bess’ jet-black hair fell down her chest like a cascading waterfall. Her bleached-white teeth sparkled like pearls amongst her rose-red lips. She was a caring, young girl; her eyes were gleaming in the moonlight.

As the Highwayman came riding down the meandering road, Bess saw his coat of claret velvet swaying in the wind.His brown breeches were tucked into his knee-high boots. He’d a handful of lace at his chin and a french-cocked hat settled on his forehead. Up he came to Bess’ casement.

The Highwayman by Ollie 6CP

The sky was as dark as ash, despite the moon’s ghostly shadow. Early the trees swayed in perfect formation: they were dancing under the stars. The inn was tall and dark, and was lit by a glimpse of moonlight shining on the casement where Bess was waiting for her love.

The figure of the tall, handsome highwayman came galloping over the purple moor. His french-cocked hat flew off into the distant moonlight. As he arrived at the inn, he saw a silhouette standing at the casement. Was it his love? He whistled a tune to the window: it was his special call to get his loves attention. Bess - the landlord's beautiful daughter - came to the casement .

The long,black-haired beauty came down to the tall, blue eyed Highwayman. “One kiss my bonny sweetheart, I’m out for a prize tonight”. He turned to the west and sped away.

Tim was a mad man: he had eyes like fire and his hair stunk of a horse stable. The red coats trooped up to the heavy inn door. They drank the innkeepers ale. Fumbling up the crooked stairs they were heading for Bess’s room. Bess awoke with fear. Jumping out of bed, she tumbled towards the door’s lock but she was too late. The red coats tied Bess up with a heavy knot: she tried to wriggle free, but all the knots held good!

Cautiously, Bess tried to get into a silent rhythm of manoeuvring her hands but in a haste to get free she hesitated and her hands became sticky with a red river of blood. Confidently, she got her hand on the long, thin musket. She was in control of the trigger. Bess heard the highwayman.

“Tlot, tlot, tlot.” The Highwayman was here. The red-coats were ready with their  muskets but Bess pulled the trigger…

The highwayman came to a sudden stop.

He froze.The red-coats lowered their rifles and and stepped back; he turned his horse and fled away with fear not knowing who was shot!

Soar - A Setting Description by Joe 6CP

As its shining structure appeared beyond the horizon, the sun’s glowing fingers snatched out as passing clouds, rotating them into angelic swirls of cotton. The dirt path meandered around the mighty, majestic oak trees as the harmonious sound of crickets chirping rang out in the desolate park.

Mara - an addict to the designing of places - stood prepared for her next test flight. Unlike the previous twenty-seven days, Mara thought today would be the day: the day she finally had a working plane! Trees stared on nervously, rooted to their spots as she hurled the place through the air - it flew and flew - but then it plummeted towards the ground like a meteor homing in on its target.

Escape from Pompeii extract by Sienna 3SC

Joyfully, Tranio and Livia ran out of the bakery laughing in search of the goat. They both looked at each other in dismay. All they could hear was boiling, hot lava rocks plummeting to the ground. They saw children crying at their ruined city which was caused by their beloved Mount Vesuvius which was now their greatest enemy. Petrified people were running in all directions trying to find an escape, but also trying to avoid the falling rocks. Tranio looked at Livia who had tears of sadness trickling down her beautiful face. Suddenly, they heard a loud, rumbling noise coming from their dangerous, monstrous Mount Vesuvius. Livia and Tranio were devastated as they looked at what was happening to their once beloved city.

Escape from Pompeii extract by Isabel 3SB

Once Tranio and Livia had arrived in the town they saw a horrible sight before them. The once sunny sky had been concealed by thick, darkening clouds. Confused, all the towns people were rushing about in all different directions with all their most precious possessions. They could hear women and children sobbing and screaming while clutching each other's hands. Adults were frantically grabbing their loved ones. Volcanic rock rained from the sky.

Escape from Pompeii extract by Riaz 3SB

Frantically, Tranio clutched onto Livia’s hand. Worried, Livia coughed and they both dashed to the safest place they knew, the harbour.

They silently crept onto the cargo ship then they hid under some new rugs. They could feel the boat bobbing on the choppy water. Heartbroken, Livia said “Will we be safe?” thinking they were the only people left in Pompeii.

“I hope so.” whispered Tranio as a tear slowly rolled down his face.

It began to get airless and stuffy. Tired and heartbroken, they hugged each other tight and drifted off to sleep…

Letters from the Trenches by 4WR

4WR have written these letter from the trenches, imagining what it would be like to be a soldier.

Click on an image to enlarge it and scroll through.

Jessie

Jessie

Jake

Jake