The delightful little market town of Battle is situated just 6mi/10km from the South Coast, north of Hastings. Although nearly every schoolchild is taught that the battle in which William the Conqueror defeated the Saxon king Harold in 1066 was fought at Hastings, in fact this most notorious of encounters
on English soil took place here, on the site of the town later named after it. To commemorate his victory, and in atonement for all the blood shed during his invasion, William built an abbey where his rival Harold fell. The finest portrayal of the battle itself is found on the famous Bayeux Tapestry, embroidered in the 11th century.
Remains of the foundations of the Norman church and a refectory are also found within Battle.
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