1066 Battle of Hastings Abbey and Battlefield

1066 Battle of Hastings Abbey and Battlefield was the scene of England's most renowned and crucial battle. Alongside the battlefield you can also explore abbey ruins and the intriguing traces of a country house, as well as interactive displays in the beautiful abbey gatehouse. An all-round great experience, this vast and varied site provides a unique day out for the whole family. Its history began on the fateful 14th of October 1066, when after many hours of hard fighting William the Conqueror's Norman invaders finally defeated King Harold Godwinson's English army in this very place. You can discover the dramatic story of the epic conflict between King Harold Godwinson and William the Conqueror's Norman invaders that took place on the 14th of October 1066. The visitor centre features a host of interactives, displays of Norman and Anglo-Saxon weaponry, and a compelling film which recount the background to the battle, the fighting, and how the Norman victory transformed the nation's history. Accompanied by an audio tour, you can see the slope where the Norman army advanced against the hilltop English shield wall and stand by the spot where Harold Godwinson was killed, changing the course of English History. On the Parkland Walk, there are dramatic wooden figures including a Norman mounted knight and archer as well as a Saxon axeman and standard bearer. All around are the ruins of Battle Abbey, the great monastery William founded as a penance for the terrible bloodshed of the battle and a memorial to the dead. Explore the great dormitory range with its atmospheric pillared and vaulted undercrofts. The medieval abbey's enormous wealth and influence, are symbolised by the Great Gatehouse built in about 1338. You can climb to its rooftop for astonishing views and learn about the lives of the abbey's monks in the recreated gatehouse chambers. You can listen to monastic music and see finds and replicas from the abbey's heyday. After its closure by Henry VIII, the abbey became a grand country house. In the extensive grounds are a thatched ornamental Regency dairy, an underground icehouse, and the Duchess of Cleveland's tranquil, hidden Walled Garden, now replanted with local species of fruit trees and equipped with beehives. There is a large café with a selection of food and drinks to cater for all. There is indoor and outdoor seating near the children's playground. You can pick up a unique souvenir from our gift shop.