Battle, East Sussex
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Battle is a town and
civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...
in the
district A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municip ...
of Rother in
East Sussex East Sussex is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Kent to the north-east, West Sussex to the west, Surrey to the north-west, and the English Channel to the south. The largest settlement ...
, England. It lies south-east of London, east of
Brighton Brighton ( ) is a seaside resort in the city status in the United Kingdom, city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England, south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age Britain, Bronze Age, R ...
and east of
Lewes Lewes () is the county town of East Sussex, England. The town is the administrative centre of the wider Lewes (district), district of the same name. It lies on the River Ouse, Sussex, River Ouse at the point where the river cuts through the Sou ...
.
Hastings Hastings ( ) is a seaside town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England, east of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to th ...
is to the south-east and
Bexhill-on-Sea Bexhill-on-Sea (often shortened to Bexhill) is a seaside town and civil parish in the Rother District in the county of East Sussex in South East England. It is located along the Sussex Coast and between the towns of Hastings, England, Hastings ...
to the south. Battle is in the designated High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The parish population was 6,673 according to the 2011 Census and 6,800 in the 2021 census. Battle contains the site of, and is named after, the
Battle of Hastings The Battle of Hastings was fought on 14 October 1066 between the Norman-French army of William, Duke of Normandy, and an English army under the Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson, beginning the Norman Conquest of England. It took place appr ...
, where William,
Duke of Normandy In the Middle Ages, the duke of Normandy was the ruler of the Duchy of Normandy in north-western France. The duchy arose out of a grant of land to the Viking leader Rollo by the French king Charles the Simple in 911. In 924 and again in 933, N ...
, defeated King Harold II to become
William I of England William the Conqueror (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), sometimes called William the Bastard, was the first Norman king of England (as William I), reigning from 1066 until his death. A descendant of Rollo, he was ...
in 1066. For some 250 years after 1066, official documents referred to the town as (Latin) Bellum or (French) Bataille.


History

Prior to 1066, the area had been relatively empty and unpopulated. The nearest settlement was probably located in today's Netherfield ward, within a large, wealthy, ancient
hundred 100 or one hundred (Roman numerals, Roman numeral: C) is the natural number following 99 (number), 99 and preceding 101 (number), 101. In mathematics 100 is the square of 10 (number), 10 (in scientific notation it is written as 102). The standar ...
called Hailesaltede.Netherfield: A Place to Defend.
Accessed September 2020.
Open Domesday: Netherfield.
Accessed September 2020.
The town of Battle grew around an abbey, which was constructed on the orders of King William to commemorate the battle and atone for the resulting slaughter; a settlement probably already existed outside the abbey gates by 1110. The Abbey provided sufficient trade to survive in an otherwise improbable location for a new town and there remain some fine examples of Medieval domestic architecture, for example the Wealden-style hall-houses in Upper Lake, Pilgrim's Rest and others in the High Street. Battle was most likely the birthplace of two pre-eminent stonemasons of the late 13th and early 14th Centuries. John of Battle worked at Vale Royal Abbey and was then chosen by Edward I to supervise construction of some of the Eleanor Crosses, whilst Thomas of Battle was involved with construction at Caerphilly Castle, the Tower of London and Battle Hall. Most of the area was heavily wooded and provided oak and other timbers for navy shipyards, power for making cannons (shipped to Portsmouth or Chatham), cannonballs and gunpowder. It later developed a reputation for the quality of the gunpowder produced in the area. The first recorded gunpowder mill in Battle was built in 1676 when John Hammond was granted permission to build a mill on land owned by the abbey. A gunpowder works was located in Powdermill Lane, the remains of which have been converted into a hotel. In 1722,
Daniel Defoe Daniel Defoe (; born Daniel Foe; 1660 – 24 April 1731) was an English writer, merchant and spy. He is most famous for his novel ''Robinson Crusoe'', published in 1719, which is claimed to be second only to the Bible in its number of translati ...
described the town as being "remarkable for little now, but for making the finest gun-powder, and the best perhaps in Europe". The Duke of Cleveland refused to renew the licence in 1874 after many mishaps, including one occasion in 1798 when more than 15 tons of gunpowder were left in the oven for too long and exploded. In the past, the town was celebrated for the skill and innovation of its clock and watch makers. This included the development of the first ever electric clock. Battle was the birthplace in 1799 of Eliza Acton, author of the pioneering '' Modern Cookery for Private Families'' (1845). This sold well for the rest of the 19th century. Its lists of ingredients, cooking times and other innovations provided a model for the cookery section of the best-selling ''
Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management ''Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management'', also published as ''Mrs. Beeton's Cookery Book'', is an extensive guide to running a household in Victorian Britain, edited by Isabella Beeton and first published as a book in 1861. Previously ...
'' (1861). 'Battel Bonfire Boyes' is claimed to be the oldest of the Sussex Bonfire Societies and to have the oldest effigy (a ‘head’) of Guy Fawkes, now in Battle Museum. Battle mostly escaped the conflict during World War 2. Some bombs and incendiary devices did fall in the area, most notably on 2 February 1943 when 3 bombs were dropped on the town. Two of these failed to explode, but one did detonate, destroying two shops and killing two residents. Close to the parish church are examples of ' dragons' teeth', Second World war, concrete, anti-tank obstacles, constructed to hinder the progress of any enemy invasion forces.


Governance

Battle is governed at the lowest level by Battle Town Council, consisting of (when a full complement) 13 elected councillors who meet on the third Tuesday of each month. The council is responsible for street lighting, allotments, cemeteries and recreational areas. It provides a local voice to the district and county councils. It is split into four wards: Marley, Netherfield, Telham and Watch Oak.
Rother District council Rother may refer to: General * Rother (surname) (also sometimes spelled Röther) *Rother District, a local government district in East Sussex, England * Rother FM, former independent local radio station for Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England * Rot ...
provides the next level of government, the bulk of which matches the Bexhill and Battle Parliamentary constituency. The council provides services such as refuse collection, planning consent, leisure amenities, council tax collection and economic development. Since the 2019 local elections, Rother has been run by a coalition of Independent, Liberal Democrat, Labour and Green councillors. Battle is divided into two wards and includes the neighbouring village of Whatlington. The North Battle, Netherfield and Whatlington ward returns two councillors (currently one Liberal Democrat and one Green) and the South Battle and Telham ward returns one (currently a Liberal Democrat).
East Sussex County Council East Sussex County Council is the upper tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of East Sussex in England. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the ceremonial county; the latter additionally includes Brighton and Hove. East ...
is the third tier of government, providing education, children's services, highways maintenance, refuse disposal, libraries and public health services. Following recent by-elections ESCC is under ‘No Overall Control’. Battle forms the major part of the Battle and Crowhurst Division which ever since 1992 has returned a Liberal Democrat as its County Councillor. Battle falls within the Bexhill and Battle UK Parliament constituency. It has traditionally returned Conservative MPs to Westminster. The MP from 2015 to 2024 has been Huw Merriman (Conservative) who was Minister of State for Rail and HS2. After Merriman stood down Conservative Kieran Mullan was elected. Prior to
Brexit Brexit (, a portmanteau of "Britain" and "Exit") was the Withdrawal from the European Union, withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU). Brexit officially took place at 23:00 GMT on 31 January 2020 (00:00 1 February ...
in 2020, Battle was part of the
South East England South East England is one of the nine official regions of England, regions of England that are in the ITL 1 statistical regions of England, top level category for Statistics, statistical purposes. It consists of the nine counties of england, ...
constituency in the
European Parliament The European Parliament (EP) is one of the two legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it ...
.


Landmarks

Telham Hill is 1.0 mile (1.6 km) south-east of Senlac Hill, and it was from Telham Hill that
William the Conqueror William the Conqueror (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), sometimes called William the Bastard, was the first Norman king of England (as William I), reigning from 1066 until his death. A descendant of Rollo, he was D ...
first caught sight of the English army forming up on Senlac Hill, for the
Battle of Hastings The Battle of Hastings was fought on 14 October 1066 between the Norman-French army of William, Duke of Normandy, and an English army under the Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson, beginning the Norman Conquest of England. It took place appr ...
, 14 October 1066. In the late 19th century it was owned and farmed by Samuel Carter as part of his Quarry Hill estate. At the top of the hill is a mound of uncertain date and purpose. The Abbey is known as
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 o ...
, and was dedicated to St Martin, sometimes known as the "Apostle of the Gauls". The abbey was founded to commemorate the battle, and dedicated in 1095. Construction was initiated by a small group of monks from Marmoutier, France. The high altar of the abbey church was reputedly sited on the spot where Harold died. The gateway is the dominant feature of the south end of the main street, although much of the rest of the abbey buildings have been demolished or adapted for domestic living. The remaining cloisters, part of the west range, were leased to Battle Abbey School shortly after World War I, and the school remains in occupancy. Opposite the Abbey is the church o
St Mary the Virgin
consecrated in 1115 and enlarged since. It contains the notable alabaster tomb of the first occupant of the abbey after the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII: Sir Antony Browne and his wife. The church also contains early 14th Century wall paintings, fine monuments and brasses. The church contains the 'Senlac window', a stained glass window depicting the Battle of Hastings and completed in 1984. It also exhibits the 3.2m long Battle Tapestry, modelled on the Bayeux Tapestry and depicting how the town might have developed from 1066 to the consecration of the church in 1115. It was produced by 741 individual 'stitchers' and completed in 2017. Battle is famed for its old-fashioned High Street, with many shops and restaurants on either side. There are three
Sites of Special Scientific Interest A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Great Britain, or an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) in the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland, is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom and Isle ...
within the parish: * Blackhorse Quarry, a site of palaeontological interest which has produced many fossil bones and teeth, including those of ''
Iguanodon ''Iguanodon'' ( ; meaning 'iguana-tooth'), named in 1825, is a genus of iguanodontian dinosaur. While many species found worldwide have been classified in the genus ''Iguanodon'', dating from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, Taxonomy (bi ...
'' and
crocodile Crocodiles (family (biology), family Crocodylidae) or true crocodiles are large, semiaquatic reptiles that live throughout the tropics in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. The term "crocodile" is sometimes used more loosely to include ...
s. * Hemingfold Meadow is a site of biological interest consisting of two meadows with nationally rare grassland species. * Darwell Wood, another site of biological importance as an example of hornbeam coppice with oak standards is partially within the parish.


Transport

Battle is linked to
Hastings Hastings ( ) is a seaside town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England, east of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to th ...
and London by the A2100 and A21. Battle railway station lies on the Hastings Line, north of Crowhurst and south of Robertsbridge. It is managed by, and the services are provided by, Southeastern. It was designed by William Tess and is a fine example of Victorian Gothic revival architecture; it has been listed as Grade 2 by
Historic England Historic England (officially the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England) is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It is tasked with prot ...
. There was once a station called Mountfield Halt between Battle and Robertsbridge, but this closed on 6 October 1969.


Popular culture

The immediate area was home to notable twentieth-century authors, including Sheila Kaye-Smith and Elizabeth Jane Howard, and is featured in their books. In the first half of the last century Marriott Edgar (who came to live and to die at Battle) was well known for his witty verses, particularly in association with Stanley Holloway. In
Anthony Burgess John Anthony Burgess Wilson, (; 25 February 1917 – 22 November 1993) who published under the name Anthony Burgess, was an English writer and composer. Although Burgess was primarily a comic writer, his Utopian and dystopian fiction, dy ...
' novel '' Earthly Powers'', Battle is the hometown of its main character, Kenneth Toomey, where Toomey's father has a dental surgery. Battle is referenced in songs by the alternative rock band Keane, as several of the members grew up in the town. In the song " Sovereign Light Cafe" from the album Strangeland, Powdermill Lane and the battlegrounds are mentioned. "Snowed Under" names Manser's Shaw; " Somewhere Only We Know" does not mention it, but is widely believed to refer to it too. British and Irish Lion Granville Coghlan was born in Battle and later became a schoolmaster.


Notable people

* Eliza Acton (1799–1859), poet and food writer, wrote '' Modern Cookery for Private Families'' * Cecil W Bacon (1905–1992), artist * Veronica Beechey (1946–2021), feminist and sociologist * Barbara Bodichon (1827–1891), artist, feminist, and educationalist, co-founded
Girton College Girton College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was established in 1869 by Emily Davies and Barbara Bodichon as the first women's college at Cambridge. In 1948, it was granted full college status by the univ ...
* Moya Bowler (born 1940), shoe designer * Samuel Carter (1805–1878), railway solicitor and politician * Frank Chacksfield (1914–1995), conductor and composer * Tom Chaplin (born 1979), lead singer of Keane * Thomas Clyde (1917–1999), film producer * Tom Dakin (born 1943), cross-country skier * Bertram Dobell (1842–1914), bookseller, publisher, and poet * William Frankland (1912–2020),
allergist An allergist is a physician specially trained to manage and treat allergies, asthma and the other allergic diseases. They may also be called immunologists. Becoming an allergist Becoming an allergist/immunologist requires completion of at least ...
and immunologist * Binnie Hale (1899–1984), actress, singer and dancer * William Hammond (1719–1783),
hymnist A hymnwriter (or hymn writer, hymnist, hymnodist, hymnographer, etc.) is someone who writes the text, music, or both of hymns. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the composition of hymns dates back to before the time of David, who is traditionally ...
* Mark Judge (1847–1927), architect * Reginald Lambert (1882–1968), cricketer * W.A. Lamborn (1877–1959), physician and medical
entomologist Entomology (from Ancient Greek ἔντομον (''éntomon''), meaning "insect", and -logy from λόγος (''lógos''), meaning "study") is the branch of zoology that focuses on insects. Those who study entomology are known as entomologists. In ...
* Leonard Newbery (1905–1976), cricketer * Herbert Arnould Olivier (1861–1952), artist * Thomas Pilchard (1557–1587), priest, one of the
Eighty-five martyrs of England and Wales The Eighty-five Martyrs of England and Wales, also known as George Haydock and Eighty-four Companion Martyrs, are a group of men who were executed on charges of treason and related offences in the Kingdom of England between 1584 and 1679. Of the e ...
* Tim Rice-Oxley (born 1976), keyboardist and backing vocalist of Keane *
Francis Ronalds Sir Francis Ronalds Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS (21 February 17888 August 1873) was an English scientist and inventor, and arguably the first History of electrical engineering, electrical engineer. He was knighted for creating the first wo ...
(1788–1873), scientist, engineer and inventor * Steven Scott (born 1985), shooter, Olympic bronze medallist * Mary Jean Stone (1853–1908), historical writer and biographer


Twin towns

Battle is twinned with Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, France.


See also

* List of places of worship in Rother


References


External links

{{Authority control Civil parishes in East Sussex Norman conquest of England Towns in East Sussex Market towns in East Sussex Rother District