East Sussex Town Guide

Tourist Guide for Battle East Sussex

- History of Battle


43AD until 400AD
The Romans were based around Battle at Beauport. They built a bathhouse for the troops guarding the Iron Workings (Bloomeries).

Battle of Hastings in 1066
Battle was founded on the site of the battle, the name comes from the Rape of Haestingas (one of the six major divisions of the land of the South Saxons) in which the battle was fought. Hastings was a fishing village at this time, though larger than other settlements in the area.

1070-1094
The town was built up around Battle Abbey which was constructed by William the Conqueror, as a penance ordered by the pope for the loss of life occurring in the battle.

1115
The Abbot built a church, for the people of "Battel".

1264
Henry III and his army stopped at Battle on their way to their battle with Simon de Montfort at Lewes.

1338
The abbey gatehouse was built as a protection from a possible French Invasion.

1420

To the side of Abbey Gatehouse stands the Pilgrims Rest, this was built on the site of a 12th century building.

In the 17th century, Battle was the centre for the gunpowder industry, located in the surrounding villages. The famous Battel Bonfire Boyes celebrated the gunpowder plot in November; it is possible that the gunpowder used by Guy Fawkes came from this area.

The Abbey was given to Sir Anthony Browne who was Henry's Master of the Horses, and was lived in and used as a private estate until 1976 when it was purchased for the nation by the government.


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