A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 14 October
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 14 October?
- 1066 William of Normandy wins the Battle of Hastings
At the Battle of Hastings, the army of William, Duke of Normandy, defeated the English army of King Harold Godwinson. - 1322 Robert the Bruce defeats Edward II at the Battle of Old Byland
Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, defeated King Edward II of England at the Battle of Old Byland. - 1586 Mary, Queen of Scots, goes on trial in England
Mary, Queen of Scots, went on trial accused of conspiracy, which means secretly plotting, against Queen Elizabeth I of England. - 1633 Born: James II
James II became King of England, Scotland and Ireland in 1685; in Scotland he was known as James VII. He was the last Catholic monarch of the three kingdoms. - 1774 American colonists speak out against Britain's Intolerable Acts
Delegates from twelve of the Thirteen Colonies, meeting in Philadelphia as the First Continental Congress, spoke out against the British Parliament's Intolerable Acts. - 1888 The oldest surviving film is made in a garden in Leeds
French inventor Louis Le Prince filmed Roundhay Garden Scene in a garden in Roundhay, Leeds. - 1910 Claude Grahame-White lands his aeroplane by the White House
English pilot Claude Grahame-White landed his aeroplane on Executive Avenue, a street near the White House in Washington, D.C. He was one of the pioneers of flying. - 1926 A. A. Milne's book Winnie-the-Pooh is published
Winnie-the-Pooh, the first book of stories about A. A. Milne's famous teddy bear, was published.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1066 | William of Normandy wins the Battle of Hastings | 2026 − 1066 = | |
| 1586 | Mary, Queen of Scots, goes on trial in England | 2026 − 1586 = | |
| 1774 | American colonists speak out against Britain's Intolerable Acts | 2026 − 1774 = | |
| 1910 | Claude Grahame-White lands his aeroplane by the White House | 2026 − 1910 = |
3. Put them in order
Write 1 next to the oldest event, then 2, 3 and so on up to the newest. Use list 1 to help you!
- Robert the Bruce defeats Edward II at the Battle of Old Byland
- William of Normandy wins the Battle of Hastings
- American colonists speak out against Britain's Intolerable Acts
- Mary, Queen of Scots, goes on trial in England
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “William of Normandy wins the Battle of Hastings”?
- A. 1888
- B. 1066
- C. 1633
In which year did this happen: “The oldest surviving film is made in a garden in Leeds”?
- A. 1926
- B. 1644
- C. 1888
Which of these happened first?
- A. The oldest surviving film is made in a garden in Leeds
- B. A. A. Milne's book Winnie-the-Pooh is published
- C. William of Normandy wins the Battle of Hastings
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 14 October. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1066 → 960 years; 1586 → 440 years; 1774 → 252 years; 1910 → 116 years.
Order: 1 = William of Normandy wins the Battle of Hastings (1066), 2 = Robert the Bruce defeats Edward II at the Battle of Old Byland (1322), 3 = Mary, Queen of Scots, goes on trial in England (1586), 4 = American colonists speak out against Britain's Intolerable Acts (1774).
Quiz: 1. B (1066); 2. C (1888); 3. C (William of Normandy wins the Battle of Hastings).