Battle of Hastings

The battle field

Wednesday was forecast to be the best day of the week so we spent it "doing" the battle of Hastings, starting at Pevensey Castle. William of Normandy landed there in 1066 and set up camp before marching east to do battle with Alfred. The castle is now a few miles inland but once guarded a harbour and our last site at Normans Bay would have been in harbour 1000 years ago, until it silted up in the 1700's. A knowledgeable volunteer in the Old Court House briefed us (a half hour history lesson) before we made our escape.

Monument from people of Normandy

After laying waste to a few villages enroute, the famous battle actually took place about 15m north of Hastings on the hill site which is now occupied by Battle Abbey. This was built by William in 1069 to try to atone for the slaughter that took place and is now partly in ruins and part occupied by a private school. It is looked after today by English Heritage but the purchase was largely funded by a group of Americans!              

We walked the walk round the site and visited the museum, then strolled up the High St. lined with the inevitable Abbey cafe and Battle tea rooms etc. Bought some Battle Bangers (recommended by Gordon Ramsey!) from the Battle butcher to have with diner and they were actually rather good.

A secluded pitch

We stopped the night at Battle Caravan Club site. A very smart site in the terraced grounds of an old victorian mansion complete with some spendid old trees, rhododendron bushes and bluebells. It did not rain all day!