Where once a jungle grew and a mummy’s tomb was found, now a castle has been built, complete with an archway and portcullis. This is probably the most impressive transformation in the past two years of part of the Burrell Collection building in Glasgow, which has been remodelled for the Knights and Castles exhibition running until next January.

An information panel states: “Scotland had some of the boldest knights and some of the best castles.” The knights are long dead but many of the castles remain, which is why Historic Scotland has helped to fund the exhibition.

Convincing stone effect walls and ceilings lead visitors through the first part of the show into a tented octagonal room, draped with velvet curtains. Next door, the building’s existing features, such as the high-pitched wooden ceiling, make a natural backdrop for the “great hall”.

As you would expect in a show aimed at schools and families, Knights and Castles is not crammed with display cases full of ancient artefacts. Instead, carefully selected objects are used to help tell the story of the historic era, with panels of easily digested information, such as: “Castles were divided into zones, each graded according to the rank of those allowed access to it.”

In the combat area there is a full suit of armour and several massive swords. (If you are rich enough, you can buy a replica suit in the museum shop.) Beside the armour is a Dress the Knight activity and information about what being a knight entailed.

In another room, a large table is laden with painted jester’s faces - “Jesters were the stand-up comedians of the Middle Ages” - and replica period hats, which you can try on in front of a mirror.

The great hall, featuring a massive refectory table, is hung with ancient tapestries, punctuated with quotes from Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, such as: “His bread, his ale were finest of the fine and no one had a better stock of wine. His house was never short of bake-meat pies, of fish and flesh, and these in such supply it positively snowed with meat and drink.”

At the nearby hunting display area, children are both repelled and fascinated by the extensive “Please touch” display of stuffed animals and skins, including polecat, wild boar, rabbit, fox and badger.

Schools’ workshops, including chain mail making and sessions with gallus knight “Sir” Hugo Robertson, are scheduled to run alongside the exhibition.

Deedee Cuddihy

For more information contact Ann Winn, tel 0141 287 2747