THE EAST SUSSEX TOWN IS INEXTRICABLY CONNECTED WITH THE MOST FAMOUS DATE IN ENGLISH HISTORY
The town grew around Battle Abbey, which was erected on the site of the battle between William, Duke of Normandy, and the Saxon King Harold, after the Pope ordered the Normans to do penance for killing so many during their conquest of England. The ruins and battlefield are now cared for by English Heritage and visitors can experience dramatic film, audio tours and interactive exhibits.
The associated Benedictine Abbey, St Martin of Battle, was completed in 1094, seven years after William died. Virtually destroyed during King Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538, it was given to Henry’s friend, Sir Anthony Browne, and became a country house, lived in until the estate was sold to the government in 1976. The Gate House now displays artefacts that have been discovered on the site.
The 12th century church of St Mary the Virgin is another architectural highlight with its Romanesque nave, rare 14th-century wall paintings and Senlac commemorative stained glass window. The 15th century Almonry is home to the town council and museum and there are plenty of Georgian properties in the town centre, alongside a diverse mix of attractions, pubs, shops, tea rooms and restaurants.
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