Care home residents explore Medieval Rotherham

MEDIEVAL Rotherham was the focus of an interactive history experience at a Parkgate care home.

Residents living at Broadacres Care Home, on Naylor Street, got to handle genuine artefacts from the era and taste ale and bread made using a 700-year-old recipe.

A bronze posey ring, pottery, carved stonework, and a very rare carved wooden panel from a 600-year-old medieval bed were among the items brought to the home for the archaeological experience.

The event was part of a series taking place at the home each month – with Roman Rotherham as last month’s focus.

They are organised by the home’s activities coordinator Aaron Poole, who also creates easy read information leaflets so residents can learn more about the town’s past in each session.

He said: “Bringing history alive in a meaningful way is important for our residents.

“We wanted to create a fully immersive experience, offering the chance to be informed and touch artefacts from the area’s past.

“We chose bread as the history food of choice as it has been a staple of the human diet for millennia. It affords the opportunity for our residents to taste what people of Medieval Rotherham would have eaten.”

Resident Shirley Henshaw, 85, said: “The wood carved panel was very good. I’d like it on my wall. The bread was not bad but the ale was a little bitter.”

Edna Reasbeck, 89, said: “The items were interesting but the bread was only just edible.”

June Hague, 84, said: “The pottery was interesting. I liked the bread. It reminded me of wholemeal. I didn’t think much of the ale.”

Ann Edwards, 84, said: “Goodness, it was a real privilege to touch items so old. Amazing. I wish I would keep some of them. Beautiful.”

Home manager Dawn Paley said: “Residents have been thoroughly enjoying the archaeology experiences organised by Aaron.

“As they haven’t been able to venture out of the home due to current restrictions, the events are a great way of bringing the outside world to them, alongside learning about the history of the town.

“Aaron’s passion for archaeology brings the events to life for the residents, as they get to handle ancient objects and get a taste of what life would have been like hundreds of years ago.”