Battle Abbey

By Zoe Ganderton

Battle Abbey Battle Abbey was built on the site of the Battle of Hastings to commemorate the victory of the Norman invaders over the English in 1066. On the 24th June 1101, the Battle Seal was awarded to the Abbey by Henry 1st to signify that he had granted the Church of St Martin (Battle Abbey) the royal privilege of the Abbott to hear all pleas against his tenants in his own court. Battle Abbey has also been privately owned by different families throughout the centuries. By the Twentieth Century, the public had been granted access to the grounds, and local people began to meet there to celebrate Battle’s rich history with a pageant, which included a re-enactment of the Battle of Hastings. Gwen Lally is the only woman to have made her name nationally as a pageant master in the South East. She produced a pageant which took place at Battle Abbey in 1932. Battle re-enactments at the Abbey are still popular today. Battle Abbey ( and Green) timeline By 1070 William the Conquerer establishes the Benedictine Abbey 1094 construction of the Abbey is complete 1200s the eastern arm of the Abbey is extended 1338 the gatehouse is re built and remains today 1538 Monastic life at the Abbey is suppressed by Henry VIII, who later gives the estate to Antony Browne. Buildings are demolished, a private residence is created. 1721 The estate passes to the Webster family for the next 250 years After 1918, the house on the estate is leased by Battle Abbey School 1976 The government purchases the battle filed and remaining Abbey structures on behalf of the nation