Using Multimedia in the Foreign Language Classroom | Page 37

Appendix V

TEXT FOR EXTENSIVE READING
Available at www.stmich-east.bracknell-forest.sch.uk/Anglo-sax.htm
[accessed 30 March 2003]

Can we imagine what it would be like to live 1000
years ago in England?
The excavations at West Stow how us that the houses were built of wood
with strong oak posts over a pit. There is evidence of planked floors,
walls and clay-based fire-places that show that the pit was floored over
and that these small buildings had above-ground walls and were quite
big. The pit could have been used for storage, or under floor
ventilation. Some were used as dwellings, others for storage or weaving.
In some there was evidence that the family pig had been kept tethered to
one of the posts.
The site at West Stow has been reconstructed to look like an AngloSaxon village and people dress up in the clothing of the time and
pretend that they are living like Saxon settlers. It is a working museum
you can visit and explore.

The houses had no windows so they were very dark and smoky inside lit
only by the fire or torches. Story telling would go on in the evenings
where several families gathered together. The roofs were made of thatch.

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