On this exciting day of wind and rain we spent a few hours in Battle. We made the border crossing past Hawkhurst and followed the signs leading to the A21. We followed the signs to Battle and parked in the Abbey car park with
the intention of looking around Battle but did the trip to the Abbey as well. Even on a grey day with occasional sunshine, heavy rain and wind the place is impressive. The autumn colors set off the dreariness of the old buildings although the town is attractive. We had intended to walk the battle of Hastings site but the weather was not helpful and we decided against getting wet and cold and confined our stroll to having a look at the battlefield from Harold's point of view. A bit one eyed you might sa
y but under the circumstances a wise move - which is more than could be said of Harold.
the intention of looking around Battle but did the trip to the Abbey as well. Even on a grey day with occasional sunshine, heavy rain and wind the place is impressive. The autumn colors set off the dreariness of the old buildings although the town is attractive. We had intended to walk the battle of Hastings site but the weather was not helpful and we decided against getting wet and cold and confined our stroll to having a look at the battlefield from Harold's point of view. A bit one eyed you might sa
y but under the circumstances a wise move - which is more than could be said of Harold. The battlefield does not create much of an impression until you can imagine a wall of Saxon shields on the ridge looking down on the approach (the line of trees mark the flat where Willy had to come) knowing that whatever you did the buggers would still be up there on the hill ready to hammer the daylights out of you if you backed off. An uncomfortable feeling even for expert fighters such as the Normans.
As the seat of our modern history it is underplayed which means that we get to see it without all the trappings of hyped up tourism in the off season. The idea of walking around the battlefield is excellent in warmer weather but the day was not conducive; nevertheless we s
aw much and gathered much potted information from the hand held speaking guides. Still, it was a sly French trick to use better tactics and win thus setting the pattern for the English propensity for turning certain victory into utter defeat. We learn that Harold was a little over hasty to get to grips with William and stretched his forces out too much. He had no back up and instead of directing the fighting from above he was part of it and could not see what was happening. When the Normans did their false retreat his lot lost the plot and raced after the retreating soldiers and were in turn surrounded and murdered. Mind you - Henry V got his revenge in the return match at Agincourt (but by then most of England was Norman anyway). We determined to return in more favourable weather and 'do' the walk. In the meantime exploring Battle itself was a treat despite the obvious. One of the treats was seeing Anglo-Saxon names for streets and places. So did William really win?
aw much and gathered much potted information from the hand held speaking guides. Still, it was a sly French trick to use better tactics and win thus setting the pattern for the English propensity for turning certain victory into utter defeat. We learn that Harold was a little over hasty to get to grips with William and stretched his forces out too much. He had no back up and instead of directing the fighting from above he was part of it and could not see what was happening. When the Normans did their false retreat his lot lost the plot and raced after the retreating soldiers and were in turn surrounded and murdered. Mind you - Henry V got his revenge in the return match at Agincourt (but by then most of England was Norman anyway). We determined to return in more favourable weather and 'do' the walk. In the meantime exploring Battle itself was a treat despite the obvious. One of the treats was seeing Anglo-Saxon names for streets and places. So did William really win? Battle is old so we expected to find old buildings popping up all over the place. Right beside the Abbey gate there are two ancient buildings both eating houses and worth a visit and these form part of a town square with ancient buildings on all sides functioning as thriving shops and stores. The council workers were putting up the Christmas Tree (Yes, Christmas T
ree) doing a manful job in the wind. They seeemed to be enjoying the job adorning what is a delightful town centre with a seasonal - sorry Christmas Tree for a Christmas celebration - bringing the thought that it is that time of the year again.
ree) doing a manful job in the wind. They seeemed to be enjoying the job adorning what is a delightful town centre with a seasonal - sorry Christmas Tree for a Christmas celebration - bringing the thought that it is that time of the year again. We walked a public footpath and got our bearings admiring the Police Station as we passed it and the new Library building that both seeemd to fit in; the former from an earlier time and the latter modern and tasteful instead of modern and 'orrible.
On the way we saw the Old Court Cottage and the magnificent Old Court house, now a dwelling, and a Tudor building that looked like something out of Disney movie.
We will be back later, next year maybe, to walk the battlefield and to explore the town and environs. Having explored much of Kent and enjoyed that we decided on a sudden whim to explore Sussex. Notable is the change of countryside as we move across the border into Sussex.
The High Weald seems different and the buildings are built differently to those of Kent which adds a sense of the new to what we are seeing. It will be a pleasure to explore our neighboring county.
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