This lesson takes as its focus the fascinating story of Civil War-era spy Elizabeth Alkin.

Elizabeth supported the Parliamentarian cause by ‘spying’ on Royalist sympathisers. She then reported them back to the Parliamentarian authorities.

It is a great opportunity to add some diversity to your  early modern period lessons. You will  be subverting students’ expectations about the roles of women at this time.

Students first learn more about the context of the time (specifically the events of the English Civil War).

Then, they organise information about Alkin and her life into chronological order. They  consider how Alkin’s life and work intersected with the major events she was living through.

Finally, students explore a number of counterfactual scenarios, helping them to reach a deepened appreciation of the impact that people like Elizabeth Alkin were able to exert on the unfolding of dramatic, era-altering events. 

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