Battle Abbey 1066 Battle of Hastings High Weald Battle Sussex UK

Battle of Hastings 1066 History

The battlefield site of the Battle of Hastings in 1066 remains impressively intact after 950 years. Most of the changes to the landscape came as a result of the construction of the Abbey and monastic buildings when the monks levelled the hilltop site where the remains of the Abbey are today. After the death of King Edward the Confessor in January of 1066 (Edward left no children), a battle for the prize of the English throne was inevitable. Three contenders, all with legitimate links to the English throne, were in the running including Earl Harold of Wessex, Duke William of Normandy and King Harold Hardrada of Norway. Edward the Confessor's nearest relative was the teenage boy Edgar Eethling, Edward's great nephew. A strong king was needed so the teenager was ruled out and Edward's succession choice Earl Harold of Wessex was rapidly crowned king.

Harold of Wessex proved rather a good administrative king and expecting a challenge from several sides he first fought off the attack in eastern England by his opportunist brother Tostig who had been in exile in Flanders. Meanwhile both Harold Hardrada of Norway and William of Normandy were known to be accumulating forces. First to come was Harold Hardrada who attacked via the River Ouse at York on around 16th September 1066. King Harold moved his English forces swiftly into position to win the decisive battle against Hardrada at Stamford Bridge on Monday 25th September 1066. Harold Hardrada was slain during this battle and the Norwegian survivors made a rapid retreat in what is believed to be around 25 ships out of an attacking original Norwegian force of 300 ships.

A mere day or so after the Battle of Stamford Bridge, William of Normandy was on the move, aided by favourable winds and probably the knowledge that King Harold had removed his defensive forces from the South Coast to the north to meet Harold Hardrada. The Normans landed, facing no opposition, at Pevensey and immediately constructed a timber-framed fort on the site of the old Roman Fort. Then William and his Norman forces pushed first to Hastings then inland to the Battle of Hastings site at Telham Hill, today at Battle. King Harold is believed to have still been at York when he heard of William's landing on the South Coast. He rapidly gathered his army and pushed south to Sussex. Many historians highlight the fact that if Harold had taken more time to gather more experienced troops and larger numbers including more archers, the Battle of Hastings may well have turned out differently. However, Harold had just won a mighty victory at Stamford Bridge and probably thought this could easily be repeated as well as wanting to prevent mass devestation of the Sussex lands by Norman invaders.

The two forces, numbering it's thought about 5,000 to 7,000 troops on each side, met at the Battle of Hastings at Telham Hill on the 14th October 1066 when the battle commenced soon after dawn. Details on the Battle of Hastings are derived mainly from two main sources, The Bayeux Tapestry and the account of the Battle by the chronicler William of Poitiers (c.1020-90). Both are from the Norman point of view, however they are incredibly detailed and provide more information than for any other medieval battle. William had already learnt of Harold's advance south the day before so the English forces had no element of surprise putting them initially at a disadvantage. Harold's forces on arrival at Telham Hill established themselves on a ridge where the remains of Battle Abbey now stand. Weapons for both armies included mail armour, helmets, shields, bows and swords but the Normans had crossbows (it's thought that this was the first use of crossbows in an English battle) and English archers were in short supply as Harold had rushed to gather his army. The Normans also relied more on cavalry whilst the English deferred to their mighty axe-wielding foot soldiers. Two very different military styles were meeting here, although the two sides were relatively evenly matched, indicated by the fact that the victory was not clear until dusk on that October day in 1066. The defining moment of this grusome and bloody battle was the counter-attack by the Normans after an initial retreat when many of the Norman soliders believed that William was dead. William rode helmetless in the frontline, regrouping his troops. The Duke had three horses shot from under him that day. After that crisis was overcome by the Normans they faked mock retreats twice to break the English ranks. The English line held however and as the light was fading the Normans had a final attempt to take the ridge. It was during this final assault that Harold was shot in the eye by an arrow and then hacked to death when he fell. The English, then leaderless, fled pursued mercilessly by the Normans. After the Battle of Hastings, William of Normandy was crowned king of England at Westminster Abbey on 25 December 1066, marking the end of Anglo-Saxon England and the beginnings of feudal loyalty.

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1066 Battle of Hastings, Battle Abbey & Battlefield Tour

You can choose between short or extensive tours around the Battle of Hastings battlefield at Battle. The shorter route along Monks' Terrace overlooks the southern end of the battlefield and takes in the Battle Abbey ruins and surrounding buildings. First to greet you as you enter the site is the great gatehouse which dominates the town of Battle and was rebuilt in 1338. From there a good starting point on the site is the 1066 Exhibition Discovery Centre where you can see a short film on the Battle of Hastings and children are well catered for with interactive exhibits and guides. The film also serves as a useful introduction to the Battlefield Walk. For details on the lives of the Benedictine Monks at Battle Abbey, known as the black monks because of the colour of their habits, head to the Museum of Abbey Life via a winding staircase near the Gatehouse entrance.

After the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII, Battle Abbey fell into various hands over the centuries serving as country estate and site for a school after the First World War. Despite the loss of some of the Abbey buildings, many monastic buildings have survived and today you can tour the magnificent East Range of the Abbey, home to the monastic dormitory and the equally magnificent 13th century vaulted novices' chamber underneath the dormitory.

Later buildings survive including a pair of 16th century towers and the remains of a monastic guest range. There are remains of the cloister walks too, a particular highlight, with features such as traces of 11th century Romanesque arcading. Other historic constructions on the site include the rare Dairy and Ice House dating from around 1818 and parts of the Precinct Wall dating from 1107-24.

1066 Battle of Hastings & Abbey, East Sussex TN33 0AD. Tel.01424 775705. For information on opening times and an extensive history on Battle Abbey and the Battle of Hastings Battlefield, see English Heritage's webguide. Well worth picking up on any visit is a copy of the English Heritage guidebook to the site which boasts extensive outstanding photography and an accessible and detailed history of both the Battle of Hastings 1066, events prior to the battle and Battle Abbey history and events after the dissolution of the monasteries.

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Yesterday's World Attraction Battle

Two floors of fascinating memorabilia and reconstructions await at the award winning Sussex family attraction, Yesterday's World Museum just opposite Battle Abbey in Battle. The museum is set within a 15th century Wealden hall house and has been described by Eric Knowles of the Antiques Roadshow as 'a glorious emporium of the past'. Various historic time periods are given due attention via interactive displays and over 100,000 historic artefacts cover the Victorian and Edwardian eras through to the 20th century and the 1970s.

Take a wander down Victorian backstreets and see fashion clothing from the 1960s and 1970s. The traditional Sweet Shop with penny sweets and homemade fudge is a kid's favourite and a new interactive high-tech exhibition sees you in audience with Queen Victoria.

Yesterday's World, Opposite Battle Abbey, 89-90 High Street, Battle, East Sussex TN33 0AQ. Tel.01424 893 938. See Yesterday's World webguide for details on opening times. The website also has an online shop.

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Battle Tourist Information

Battle Tourist Information Centre, Battle Abbey, Gatehouse, Battle East Sussex TN33 0AD. Tel. 01424 773721. Open from November to March from 10am to 4pm. From April to September from 09.30am to 5.30pm. In October from 10am to 5pm.

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