Battle Abbey facts for kids
Battle Abbey is a famous old Benedictine abbey in Battle, East Sussex, England. It is partly in ruins today. This abbey was built on the exact spot where the Battle of Hastings took place. It was dedicated to St Martin of Tours. Today, it is a protected historical site called a Scheduled monument.
English Heritage now looks after Battle Abbey. They call it '1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield'. You can explore the abbey buildings and ruins. There is a visitor centre with a film and exhibition about the battle. You can also take audio tours of the battlefield. The monks' gatehouse shows recovered old items. The visitor centre has a discovery room for kids and a café. There is also an outdoor playground.
Contents
History of Battle Abbey
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Battle Abbey – Norman monument to Harold
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Battle Abbey – Dorter (monks' sleeping area)
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Battle Abbey – Novices Common Room
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Battle Abbey – Dorter, remains of cloister and Battle Abbey School
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An aerial view of the Dorter
Why William Built the Abbey
In 1070, Pope Alexander II asked the Normans to make up for the many lives lost during their Norman conquest of England. In response, William the Conqueror promised to build an abbey. He wanted it built where the Battle of Hastings happened. The main altar of its church was meant to be where King Harold fell. This battle took place on Saturday, 14 October 1066.
William started building the abbey, dedicating it to St. Martin. However, he died before it was finished. The church was completed around 1094. It was opened during the rule of his son, William II of England, also known as Rufus. William I had decided that the church of St Martin of Battle would be free from all church control. This put it on the same level as Canterbury Cathedral.
Changes Over Time
Walter de Luci became the abbot in 1139. He made many improvements to the abbey. The church was rebuilt in the late 1200s. But it was almost completely destroyed in 1538. This happened during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. King Henry VIII ordered this to happen.
After the abbey closed, the monks were given money to live on. King Henry VIII gave the abbey and much of its land to his friend, Sir Anthony Browne. Sir Anthony pulled down the church and parts of the cloister. He turned the abbot's living area into a country house.
Later Owners and Today
The abbey changed hands many times over the centuries. In 1721, it was sold to Sir Thomas Webster. The Webster family owned Battle Abbey until 1857. Then it was sold to Lord Harry Vane. The abbey was bought back by the Webster family in 1901.
Finally, in 1976, the descendants of Sir Augustus Webster sold Battle Abbey to the British government. Now, English Heritage takes care of it.
Battle Abbey School
During the Second World War, Canadian troops were stationed at the abbey. At that time, it was an all-girls boarding school. Today, Battle Abbey School still uses parts of the abbey buildings. These parts were built between the 13th and 16th centuries.
Visitors usually cannot go inside the school buildings. But during the school's summer holidays, you can often visit the abbot's hall.
Visiting the Site
Today, only the outline of the abbey church can be seen on the ground. A plaque marks the spot where Harold is believed to have died. Nearby, there is a monument to Harold. The people of Normandy put it there in 1903.
The abbey ruins and the battlefield are popular with tourists. Events like the Battle of Hastings reenactments are held there. In 2016, Historic England studied the old oak timbers from the gatehouse and other areas. This helped them figure out when different parts of the abbey were built.
Burials
See also
In Spanish: Abadía de Battle para niños
