Battle Abbey

You know, I'm going to stop whining about the weather and how dreadfully cold it is.. My photos as I post them on to my blog and instagram show blue sky and sunshine - and no-one is going to beleive for a second how cold it really is.. or how rainy and blustery the winds are. ( straight from the Bunyas.. in joke with Alexanders and Rowes...)

The Abbey was established almost immediately after the Battle of Hastings in 1066, with buildings added, fortified and strengthen over the next few centuries.

This is a photo of the gatehouse leading into the Abbey at Battle. It was built int he 1300s to keep those nasty French out during the 100 years war.  I don't think the French got this far, but the Abbey was fortified and prepared for defence just in case.

The High Alter and cloisters are all gone now, but it is believed that where King Harold fell is sacred ground so the church was built directly on top of it.  All we have as reminders are markings on the ground where the footings were and this slab to commemorate the event.

It doens't seem possible that over eight thousand soldiers fitted onto this field and stood against each other, fighting to the death all day long.

The peaceful meadow is a little eerie. By all accounts it ran rivers of blood on the day with the dead littered so high, none of the grass could be seen.

The Abbey was very successful in the middle ages, and built accommodation houses for the hundreds of monks who came to study and pray here. I love the arched columns and the work put in to the brickworks for this simple storehouse.

Being mid term, the kids had the opportunity to do some hands on activities, including dress ups ( the armour and weapons are a bit of a mish mash of crusades, Roman and viking.. but don't let that stop a bit of fun.

The kids painted shields and made viking boats with insignia sails.

I am loving how each visit to a particular spot is building their knowledge of history, and they are now able to identify certain kings, queens and specific events which changed the way the world operated.