About Northern Forge

   

Northern Forge is a York-based provider of immersive Key Stage 2 history outreach days, bringing the worlds of the Vikings, Romans, and Anglo-Saxons directly into primary schools. 

 

We deliver interactive, hands-on learning experiences that allow pupils to explore the past through weapons demonstrations, object handling, storytelling, and historical games. Each session is led by experienced educators in authentic historical dress, helping children step into the past and experience history in a way that is engaging, memorable, and fun.

 

 

Our Story 

 

Northern Forge was founded after working as the Viking Team Leader at the Jorvik Viking Centre. 

 

During that time, it became clear that while museum visits are exciting, they often come with practical challenges for schools. Travel costs, time limitations, and large visitor numbers can mean pupils only have a short time engaging with the learning experience. 

 

By bringing the experience directly into schools, pupils gain significantly more time interacting with the educators leading the sessions. This allows for deeper learning, more questions, and far greater participation from every child in the class.

 

 

A New Chapter 

 

Like many educational programmes, Northern Forge paused during the COVID‑19 pandemic. 

During this time, the founder moved into higher education teaching, gaining a PGCE and achieving Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) accreditation. This period helped refine the educational approach behind Northern Forge, combining professional teaching practice with the immersive historical interpretation that made the outreach days so popular. 

 

Now Northern Forge is returning to primary schools with renewed energy and an even stronger focus on high-quality, engaging learning experiences.

 

 

Our Approach 

 

At Northern Forge, we believe that learning should be engaging, fun, and memorable. 

 

Children learn best when they can see, touch, ask questions, and take part, rather than simply listen. Our outreach days are designed to encourage curiosity, spark imagination, and make historical periods feel real and exciting. 

 

By combining professional teaching experience with authentic historical interpretation, we create learning experiences that pupils remember long after the school day ends.

 

 

Meet the Team 

 

NEIL TATTERSALL ^{BA (Hons), BADC, PGCE, FHEA}

FOUNDER, LECTURER & FIGHT DIRECTOR

 

Neil is an experienced history educator and heritage practitioner specialising in immersive learning for primary-aged pupils. With a background in performance and education, they combine storytelling, historical interpretation, and practical engagement to bring the past vividly to life.

 

They hold a BA (Hons) in Theatre from the University of Leeds (2004–2007), a PGCE completed through the Open University and University Centre Leeds (2020–2021), and were awarded Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) in 2025. In addition, they achieved an industry-recognised qualification in teaching dramatic combat from the British Academy of Dramatic Combat (BADC) in 2019, further enhancing their dynamic and physical approach to historical interpretation.

 

In 2011, they founded Northern Forge, delivering engaging Viking and Roman outreach days for Key Stage Two pupils across the UK. Their work focuses on making history accessible, memorable, and curriculum-linked through interactive workshops and hands-on experiences.

 

Alongside this, they have been running the Original Viking Walk in York since 2015, offering historically informed and entertaining guided tours that draw on both academic knowledge and performance expertise.

 

Their professional experience includes working as an occasional consultant for the Royal Armouries and serving as Team Leader of Viking Interactives at the JORVIK Viking Centre from 2007 to 2013, where they played a key role in developing and delivering world-class visitor experiences.

 

 

ADAM SEYMOUR

EXPERT STORYTELLER & WORKSHOP FACILITATOR

 

York-born Adam, brings years of storytelling experience to Northern Forge's team. Starting his storytelling career at the infamous York Dungeon as an actor before moving on to the interactive team at the world-famous Jorvik Viking Centre.  Adam has worked with Northern Forge as a skald and a tour guide around the beautiful city of York since 2016.

 

 

THOM JONES ^{BA (Hons), Master MEEF}

EDUCATION CONSULTANT

(full bio coming soon) 

  

 

ERIN TATTERSALL ^{BA (Hons)}

EDUCATION OFFICER

(full bio coming soon)  

 

 

What Schools Say 

 

Testimonials!