1. Interpretation © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Should Wat Tyler have a road named after him?

2. Interpretation © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Objectives In this activity you will: Describe Wat Tyler’s role in the Peasants’ Revolt. Explain why he has a road named after him. Justify an argument that answers why he should have a road named after him.

3. Interpretation © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 There is a Wat Tyler Road in Lewisham, London. There is also: A Wat Tyler Country Park in Essex. A Wat Tyler Way in Maidstone. And the ‘Wat Tyler’ pub in Dartford.

4. Interpretation © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Why do people have things named after them? They are perceived as: Important Popular Significant Famous Heroic Any others?

5. Interpretation © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Road, Pub and Park names could be considered to be an historical interpretation of Wat Tyler. This lesson investigates if this interpretation of Wat Tyler as important, popular and heroic is correct. Should Wat Tyler have a road named after him?

6. Interpretation © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Pair up with a classmate. Your teacher will hand you a printout of the following screen, cut into 12 cards.

7. Interpretation © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Wat Tyler was murdered by the mayor of London and John Cavendish. He was unarmed. Tyler led an army of peasants who captured a castle in Kent. Tyler led an army of 50,000 peasants to London to protest against taxes, the king and the treatment of peasants. Wat Tyler’s army attacked buildings and the homes of the rich in London. Wat Tyler went to meet with the king alone to try to negotiate for fairer taxes, and better rights for peasants. After the Peasants’ Revolt and the death of Wat Tyler the king agreed to give the peasants what they wanted. After the death of Wat Tyler the king broke his promises and attacked peasants and their leaders in Kent and Essex. After the Peasants’ Revolt the government didn’t collect another Poll Tax. The unpaid work of Villeins for their Lords ended after the Peasants’ Revolt. This was partly due to a shortage of peasants. By 1500 all peasants were free. This is partly a result of the Peasants’ Revolt. Wat Tyler is still studied by school children all over Britain. It is very difficult to find out much at all about Watt Tyler’s life apart from his role in the Peasants’ Revolt.

8. Interpretation © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Sort the cards into the following three categories: Wat Tyler deserves a road named after him. Somewhere in the middle Wat Tyler doesn’t deserve a road named after him.

9. Interpretation © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Wat Tyler was murdered by the mayor of London and John Cavendish. He was unarmed. Tyler led an army of peasants who captured a castle in Kent. Tyler led an army of 50,000 peasants to London to protest against taxes, the king and the treatment of peasants. Wat Tyler’s army attacked buildings and the homes of the rich in London. Wat Tyler went to meet with the king alone to try to negotiate for fairer taxes, and better rights for peasants. After the Peasants’ Revolt and the death of Wat Tyler the king agreed to give the peasants what they wanted. After the death of Wat Tyler the king broke his promises and attacked peasants and their leaders in Kent and Essex. After the Peasants’ Revolt the government didn’t collect another Poll Tax. The unpaid work of Villeins for their Lords ended after the Peasants’ Revolt. This was partly due to a shortage of peasants. By 1500 all peasants were free. This is partly a result of the Peasants’ Revolt. Wat Tyler is still studied by school children all over Britain. It is very difficult to find out much at all about Watt Tyler’s life apart from his role in the Peasants’ Revolt Which category did you put each card into, and why?

10. Interpretation © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Your local council is planning to re-name a road in your town ‘Wat Tyler Lane’ On their website discussion forum people have been posting their views. Write your own response to these posts.

11. Interpretation © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Dave453: Wat Tyler way is a daft name for road, I don’t even know who he was. Lindylou : I think it’s a great name for a road he was a hero. Wat Tyler changed people’s lives by standing up to the king. HRHRichard: I don’t think we should honour Wat Tyler he was a rebel who caused damage and chaos. We should recognise people who work for the country not against it.