Battle Abbey, Battle, East Sussex

Reconstruction drawing of the cloister of Battle Abbey as it might have appeared in the late 13th century. The illustration shows the north cloister being used as a scriptorium (for copying manuscripts). Following his victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William the Conqueror founded Battle Abbey at the site of the battle in fulfilment of a vow to God. After the dissolution of the monasteries some of the buildings were converted into a mansion. Only the plan of the church remains. This property is now in the care of English Heritage (2010). Find out more.

Location

East Sussex Battle

Period

Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)

Themes

A nunnery was first documented here in 603. A monastery was founded during the abbacy of Aldhelm (c675-705). It became Benedictine in the reign of Edgar (959–975) and remained so until dissolved in 1539. The final Abbey Church was built circa 1160-70 and had 13th/14th and 15th century additions. The 431 feet (131 m) tall spire, collapsed in a storm around 1500. The west tower fell around 1550. As a result of these two collapses, less than half of the original building stands today. The abbey was closed at the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539 by Henry VIII. It was sold, with all its lands, to William Stumpe, a rich merchant. He gave the abbey church to the town for continuing use as a parish church, and filled the abbey buildings with twenty looms for his cloth-weaving enterprise.
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Battle Abbey, Battle, East Sussex

Location

Period

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