Battle & Battle Abbey
 Abbeys |
Situated to the northwest of the town of Hastings, the small town of Battle is world famous for the Battle of Hastings of 1066 where the Norman king, William (the Conqueror - later William I of England) confronted and defeated the Saxon king, Harold. The battle was to change the entire course of English history, bringing onto the throne of England a new royal dynasty. Interestingly, however, the battle took place on Senlac Hill, some 10 miles from Hastings and as such should really be called the battle of Senlac Hill rather than the battle of Hastings. The battle is famously depicted on the Bayeux tapestry that was woven shortly after William's victory. The tapestry is 231 feet (70 m) long and 19.5 inches (49.5 cm) wide on which are embroidered more than 70 scenes of the Norman Conquest. Held at the Norman town of Bayeux, the tapestry is a significant source of military tactics of the age.
The town of Battle is full of charm as well as history. It includes a number of Norman churches, such as the church of St Mary, which dates from the time of the Norman Conquest.
In its graveyard is the tomb of Isaac Ingall, who died in 1798 at the alleged age of 120. He was supposed to have been a servant of the Abbey for 100 years. Battle also houses a number of great Georgian buildings such as the George Hotel and a number of charming cottages dating to the late 17th century. The great gateway that dominates the town was built in 1338 by the order of Abbot de Ketling as part of the fortifications ordered by Edward III (1312-1377) against French coastal raids. The site of the clash between Harold and William is overlooked by the Benedictine Abbey of St Martin. Tradition tells us that the Abbey was built as a result of a vow that William made that if God grants him victory against Harold he would build a monastery to mark the victory. The High Altar was placed on the spot where Harold was mortally wounded by an arrow.
Bayeux Tapestry
Today the Abbey is a private school although much of the site is open to visitors who are taken from the Abbey gatehouse to the battlefield and the Abbey ruins. The Abbey acquired considerable power and wealth during the Middle Ages but was dissolved during the Dissolution of the Monarchies during the reign of King Henry VIII (1491-1547).