Battle Abbeyis a partially ruinedBenedictineabbeyinBattle, East Sussex,England. The abbey was built on the site of theBattle of Hastingsand dedicated toSt Martin of Tours.It is aScheduled Monument.[1]
 Battle Abbey – Gate House | |
  Location within East Sussex | |
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1094 |
| Disestablished | 1538 |
| Dedicated to | St Martin of Tours |
| Consecrated | 1094 |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | William I of England |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Scheduled monument |
| Designated date | 11 July 1928 |
| Site | |
| Location | Battle, East Sussex |
| Country | England |
TheGrade I listedsite is now operated byEnglish Heritageas1066 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
editFoundation
editWilliam the Conquerorhad vowed to build amonasteryin the event that he won the battle. In 1070,Pope Alexander IIordered theNormansto do penance for killing so many people during theirconquest of England.William vowed to build anabbeywhere theBattle of Hastingshad taken place, with the highaltarof the church on the supposed spot where KingHaroldfell in battle on Saturday, 14 October 1066.[2]
William started building it but died before it was completed. TheVillsurvey of 1076 and early legal documents of adjoining property refer to a hospital or guesthouse which was attached to the gate of the abbey.[3]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 sonWilliam II(commonly known as William Rufus). The king presented there his father's sword and coronation robes.
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.[4]
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 ofsanctuary,oftreasure trove,offree warren,and ofinquest,and the inmates and tenants were exempt from allepiscopalandsecularjurisdiction. 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.[4]
Walter de Lucibecame abbot in 1139 and made several improvements. During the reign ofHenry II of England,rival church authorities at Canterbury and Chichester unsuccessfully tested the charter.[5]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.[4]
Suppression
edit
The church was remodelled in the late 13th century, but virtually destroyed during thedissolution of the monasteriesin 1538 under KingHenry VIII.At the time of the suppression of the Abbey (May 1538), there were seventeen monks in residence. The displaced monks of Battle Abbey were provided with pensions, including the abbot John Hamond and the prior Richard Salesherst, as well as monks John Henfelde, William Ambrose, Henry Sinden, Thomas Bede and ThomasLevett,all bachelors in theology.
The abbey and much of its land was given by Henry VIII to his friend andMaster of the Horse,SirAnthony Browne,who demolished the church and parts of the cloister and turned the abbot's quarters into a country house.
A triple-light window in Buckland Church,Tasmania,depicting the life of St John and the crucifixion of Jesus, is claimed to have once adorned Battle Abbey. The oft repeated legend goes that it was removed and hidden during the Cromwell era to protect it from destruction, until it was transported to Tasmania many years later. This seems highly unlikely.[6]
Later history
editThe abbey was sold in 1721 by Browne's descendant, Anthony Browne, 6th Viscount Montagu, toSir Thomas Webster, MPandbaronet.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.[7]
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
editIn 1976, the Webster family trustees sold Battle Abbey to the British government (albeit aided by a substantial contribution from a group of American philanthropists);[8]it is now in the care ofEnglish Heritage.[1]In 2016,Historic Englandcommissioned tree-ring analyses of oak timbers from thegatehouse,dorterandreredorterto help identify when these areas might have been built. Findings imply phased building and local timber acquisition, with samples indicating early- and later-fifteenth-century building work.[1]
The church's high altar reportedly stood on the spot where Harold died. This is now marked by a plaque on the ground, and nearby is a monument to Harold erected by the people ofNormandyin 1903. The ruins of the abbey, with the adjacent battlefield, are a popular tourist attraction, with events such as theBattle of Hastings reenactments.
All that is left of the abbey church itself today is its outline on the ground, but parts of some of the abbey's buildings are still standing: those built between the 13th and 16th centuries. These are still in use as the independentBattle Abbey School.[9]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 bandBlack Sabbath's music video for "Headless Cross", the title track of the album of the same name released in 1989.
Burials
editGallery
edit-
Battle Abbey -
Monument to Harold -
Battle Abbey – novices' common room -
Novices' chamber -
Battle Abbey – dorter, remains of cloister andBattle Abbey School -
Battle Abbey reenactment
See also
edit- Abbot of Battle,a list of abbots of Battle Abbey
- Battle Abbey Roll
- List of monastic houses in East Sussex
- Senlac Hill
- Odo of Canterbury
References
edit- ^abcArnold, Alison; Howard, Robert; Tyers, Cathy (8 February 2017)."Battle Abbey, Battle, East Sussex: Tree-Ring Analysis of Oak Timbers from the Gatehouse, Dorter and Reredorter. Historic England Research Report 58/2016".research.historicengland.org.uk.Retrieved29 May2020.
- ^Johnson, Ben. "Battle, East Sussex", Historic UK
- ^"Hospitals: Battle."A History of the County of Sussex:Volume 2. Ed. William Page. London: Victoria County History, 1973. 98.British History OnlineRetrieved 24 June 2019.
- ^abcBurton, Edwin. "Battle Abbey." The Catholic EncyclopediaVol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 29 August 2022
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
- ^Page, William(ed.)."Houses of Benedictine monks: Abbey of Battle | British History Online".british-history.ac.uk.Retrieved16 June2024.
- ^Brown, Ray (July 2012)."St John the Baptist, Buckland, Tasmania".Stained Glass Australia.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^"History of Battle Abbey and Battlefield".English Heritage.Retrieved9 November2018.
- ^Pryce, Roy (2005).Battle Abbey and the Websters.Heathfield, East Sussex: Roy Pryce.ISBN0952809311.
- ^Battle Abbey School
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Battle Abbey".Catholic Encyclopedia.New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Further reading
edit- Austin, Nick (2012).Secrets of the Norman Invasion.Ogmium Press.ISBN978-0954480165.
- "1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield".English Heritage.Retrieved1 October2016.
- Hare, J. N. (1985).Battle Abbey: The Eastern Range and the Excavations of 1978–80.English Heritage.ISBN978-1850740629.
- Historic England."Battle Abbey (414519)".Research records (formerly PastScape).Retrieved1 October2016.
- Page, William,ed. (1907) [1973].Houses of Benedictine Monks: Abbey of Battle.A History of the County of Sussex. Vol. 2. London: Victoria County History. pp. 52–56.ISBN978-0712905862.
External links
edit
- White, Tim (2015)."The White Family of Battle".Archived fromthe originalon 25 March 2010.Retrieved1 October2016.
- "Battle Abbey and Battlefield Walk", All Trails