Battle

Battle Abbey

On Friday (Oct 14) I didn't have any field studies scheduled, so I took the opportunity to use the Castle's minibus. It has trips every day, usually to local grocery stores, the village, the movie theatre, etc; but on Fridays it sometimes goes to nearby bigger historic towns, like Lewes and Alfriston (both of which I really want to go to) and Battle. Friday's trip was to Battle (about 20 min away from the castle). I spent a little while walking in the gardens adjoining Battle's Town Council and little museum, but spent most of my 2.5 hours there at Battle Abbey.

gardens at Battle

Battle Abbey was built in 1070 CE. The abbey and the town that grew up around it are called Battle because the abbey sits on the location of the Battle of Hastings in 1066 (yes, it was fought in Battle, not the nearby town of Hastings!). This battle is usually argued as the most important in British history: it was here that William the Conquerer defeated King Harold of England, thus formalizing the Norman invasion of England. The battle is famously portrayed on the Bayeux Tapestry, if that rings any bells. Supposedly, the high altar of the abbey is located on the exact spot where King Harold died.

The Abbey is actually a complex of several buildings, and its 100-acre grounds include the actual battlefield. The battle was fought on October 14th, 1066, and by chance I was visiting on October 14th! There was lots of preparation underway for a major re-enactment of the battle taking place over the following two days (see photo below):

tents going up on the battlefield

I had a great time exploring the abbey buildings and grounds by myself! It was quite quiet, and often I I couldn't see anyone else besides me in these beautiful surroundings.

note how the columns are taller and the ceiling higher
compared to the room 2 photos above this one:
they are both rooms on the ground floor of
the building, but are on a steep slope, so the ceiling
height changes to accommodate, making a flat
surface for the floor of the second story above these rooms.

here you can see the flat floor of the second story,
as mentioned in the caption a few photos above this one

There was also 2 great exhibits about the Battle of Hastings and the lives of the monks who lived here.

stairs up to one of the exhibits

view from window in the exhibit out to Rye's High Street

This is the view from outside the abbey gatehouse:

And right across the street: more cream tea! I didn't go in, but just took a picture of the sign :)