Battle Abbey

Battle Abbey is a partially ruined Benedictine abbey in Battle, East Sussex, England. The abbey was built on the site of the Battle of Hastings and dedicated to St Martin of Tours. It is a Scheduled Monument.

The Grade I listed site is now operated by English Heritage as 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield, which includes the abbey buildings and ruins, a visitor centre with a film and exhibition about the battle, audio tours of the battlefield site, and the monks' gatehouse with recovered artefacts. The visitor centre includes a children's discovery room and a café, and there is an outdoor-themed playground.

History

Foundation

William the Conqueror had vowed to build a monastery in the event that he won the battle. In 1070, Pope Alexander II ordered the Normans to do penance for killing so many people during their conquest of England. William vowed to build an abbey where the Battle of Hastings had taken place, with the high altar of the church on the supposed spot where King Harold fell in battle on Saturday, 14 October 1066.

William started building it but died before it was completed. The Vill survey of 1076 and early legal documents of adjoining property refer to a hospital or guesthouse which was attached to the gate of the abbey. The monastic buildings were about a mile in circuit and formed a large quadrangle, the high altar of the church being on the spot where Harold fell. The church was finished in about 1094 and consecrated during the reign of his son William II (commonly known as William Rufus). The king presented there his father's sword and coronation robes.

thumb|left|Battle Abbey – [[wikt:dorter|Dorter]]

The first monks were from the Benedictine Abbey of Marmoutier; the new foundation was dedicated to the Holy Trinity, St. Mary and St. Martin. It was designed for one hundred and forty monks, though there were never more than sixty in residence at one time.

William I had ruled that the church of St Martin of Battle was to be exempted from all episcopal jurisdiction, putting it on the level of Canterbury. The abbey was enriched by many privileges, including the right of sanctuary, of treasure trove, of free warren, and of inquest, and the inmates and tenants were exempt from all episcopal and secular jurisdiction. It was ruled by a mitred abbot who afterward had a seat in Parliament and who had the curious privilege of pardoning any criminal he might meet being led to execution. At the Abbey was kept the famous "Roll of Battle Abbey" which was a list of all those who accompanied William from Normandy. As time went on and the honour of descent from one of these Norman families was more highly thought of, unauthentic additions seem to have been made.

Later history

The abbey was sold in 1721 by Browne's descendant, Anthony Browne, 6th Viscount Montagu, to Sir Thomas Webster, MP and baronet. Webster was succeeded by his son, Sir Whistler Webster, 2nd Baronet, who died childless in 1779, being succeeded in the baronetcy by his brother. Battle Abbey remained in the Webster family until 1857, when it was sold to Lord Harry Vane, later Duke of Cleveland. On the death of the Duchess of Cleveland in 1901, the estate was bought back by Sir Augustus Webster, 7th baronet.

Sir Augustus (son of Sir Augustus, 7th baronet) was born in 1864 and succeeded his father as 8th baronet in 1886. Sir Augustus was formerly a captain in the Coldstream Guards. With the death of the 8th baronet in 1923, the baronetage became extinct. The abbot's house was an all-girls boarding school; Canadian troops were stationed there during the Second World War.

Present day

In 1976, the Webster family trustees sold Battle Abbey to the British government (aided by a substantial contribution from American philanthropists); it is now in the care of English Heritage. Visitors to the abbey are usually not allowed inside the school buildings, although during the school's summer holidays, access to the abbot's hall is often allowed.

The church was used as the primary ground for the filming of band Black Sabbath's music video for "Headless Cross", the title track of the album of the same name released in 1989.

Burials

Harold Godwinson II

Gallery

File:Battle Abbey - geograph.org.uk - 3303729.jpg|Battle Abbey

File:Battleabbey-wyrdlight-0227.jpg|Monument to Harold

File:Battleabbey-wyrdlight-0204.jpg|Battle Abbey – novices' common room

File:Battle Abbey Novices' Chamber, Sussex, England - 23-04-17.jpg|Novices' chamber

File:Battleabbey-wyrdlight-0244.jpg|Battle Abbey – dorter, remains of cloister and Battle Abbey School

File:Battle Abbey re-enactment - geograph.org.uk - 1156944.jpg|Battle Abbey reenactment

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References

External links

"Battle Abbey and Battlefield Walk", All Trails