Battle

Sussex

This is where the Battle of Hastings took place on 14th October 1066, when  William, Duke of Normandy, was victorious and Harold, King of England, died.

English Heritage Battle Abbey and battlefield, Sussex

22nd October 2014                                                                             All photos by Hetty

The battlefield – William was at the bottom of the hill, and Harold at the topS1054216 copy

The battlefield has survived because it became part of a Benedictine Abbey founded by King William ‘the Conqueror’, in atonement.

This marks where the Abbey’s altar was, on the spot where King Harold is said to have died. (According to the Bayeux Tapestry, with an arrow in his eye).S1054238 copy

Abbey ruinsS1054236 copy

16th-century courthouse and 14th century Abbey Gatehouse, seen from the market place1 copy

The Gatehouse and courthouse from the outer courtyardS1054206 copy

Oldest part of the GatehouseS1054209 copy

The under-croft, remaining from the guest rangeS1054217b copy

The monk’s dormitory, was on the first floorS1054220 copy

Monastery remains, with 1818  thatched dairy behindS1054221 copy

Ground floor under the monk’s dormitoryS1054221b copy

After the dissolution of the monasteries in 1538, it became a country estate.

The abbot’s lodging became a house, which since 1922 has been a school.It was rebuilt after a fire in 1931S1054239a copy

These were the cloistersS1054239b copy

The other side of the schoolS1054243 copy

This was the Duchess of Cleveland’s walled garden – the mid 19th century layout of the garden has been recreatedS1054231 copy

The ice houseS1054235 copy

 

The town of Battle is directly outside the abbey walls.

‘Pilgrims Rest’, erected in 1420 on the site of an original 12th century building.S1054244a copy

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The Market PlaceS1054246 copy

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The Bull Inn, built with stone from the AbbeyS1054248 copy

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Peppers says 1480

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All images on the website copyright of HettyHikes.co.uk

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