In the footsteps of King Harold
Battle
East Sussex
Battle is 57 miles south-east of London, near the junction of the A2100 and the A271, about 7 miles north-west of Hastings.
Battle Abbey
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Battle Abbey
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View of the battlefield
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The wall of Battle Abbey that marks the exact line of Harold's shield wall
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On 13 October 1066, Harold sent messengers telling his troops to assemble 'at the hoary apple-tree' – a well-known landmark. The tree stood on Caldbec Hill, where the road leading from Hastings forked. One branch led to the road that ran from Maidstone to London, the other to the Lewes-London road. If William of Normandy was to break out of his beachhead at Hastings and march on the capital, he would have to take one of these roads.
The village of Battle did not exist at that time. Today Caldbec Hill is crowned by a windmill east of the A2100 on the minor road to Whatlington.
When William rode out of his Hastings stronghold at 6am on 14 October, he found Harold's army already formed up, 10 or 12 ranks deep, along a high ridge known as Senlac Hill, which blocked his path. The English flanks were protected by streams and hollows, and the rear by a steep slope.
The ground was marshy at the bottom of the ridge. Only a narrow strip in the centre was firm enough for the invaders to negotiate. William sent his troops through this narrow gap, forming them up at the foot of the hill. This was a risky move. At any time, the English could have swarmed down the slope and attacked. But Harold showed uncharacteristic caution and kept his position on the high ground.
At about 9am, Norman archers moved forward and fired. But the arrows were stopped by an English shield wall, and the archers, in their exposed position, suffered some losses. The Norman infantry went in next. They were cut down by English two-handed battle axes. Seeing their plight, William sent in the cavalry, but attacking uphill blunted their effectiveness.
However, when the cavalry pulled back, the undisciplined English chased after them. The Norman line began to give. A rumour that William was dead circulated and some of his troops fled. Sensing this might turn into a rout, William lifted his helmet so that his men could see he was alive. This put heart back into his troops. They attacked and fell back in turns, keeping relentless pressure on the English line, while giving themselves periods of rest.
Occasional feints lured more of the English down the hill to their deaths. But this tactic was also costly in Norman lives. William then ordered an all-out assault. This time his archers shot high in the sky, the falling arrows thinning the English ranks. This shortened the shield wall enough for the Normans to mount the ridge on the flanks. But it took a further two hours for them to scythe their way through to where Harold had fallen. His brothers Gyrth and Leofwine were also dead, leaving the English without leaders.
It was once thought, from the evidence of the Bayeux Tapestry, that Harold had been killed by an arrow in the eye. However, further examination of the tapestry – and a reading of contemporary accounts – has led historians to believe that the Saxon king was beheaded and had both of his legs hacked off as well.
Before the battle, William had vowed that he would build a church on the site if God would grant him victory. This he did, setting the high altar on the spot where Harold had fallen. Nothing of this now remains above ground, although traces of it have been excavated. At the same time as the church was built, the site was renamed 'Battle'.
Subsequently Benedictine monks built an abbey close by. This was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1538 and given to his master of horse, who pulled down many of the buildings and converted the abbot's lodgings into a private house. Now leased to Battle Abbey School, it bears the remains of the abbey cloisters down one side. The impressive 14th-century gateway has survived largely in its original state.
Battle Abbey, now managed by English Heritage, is open all year. The Abbot's Hall (Battle Abbey School) can be visited only during school summer holidays.
The best place to imagine what the battle must have been like is to stand on the abbey terrace (Senlac Hill), which is where the English took up their positions. This overlooks a deep gully; about 365 metres (1,200 feet) south of this is a low hill on which the Norman forces were drawn up. Alternatively you can visit Battle on the weekend closest to 14 October, when the battle is re-enacted annually.
Osprey Essential Norman Conquest
www.essentialnormanconquest.com/
Fantastic website with day-by-day fact-packed timeline from 28 September
to 15 October 1066, plus lots of other information.
Battle of Hastings 1066
www.battle1066.com/intro.shtml
An enthusiast's site that covers virtually every detail of the battle,
its origins and its aftermath.
Battle Sussex UK
www.battle-sussex.co.uk
Useful site if you want to visit the battlefield. You can fill in a form for a village guide to be sent to you.
