Anglo Saxon History Home Background Landscape Changing Landscape and Language Sea Levels in AD400(Pevensey) Sea Levels in AD400(The Wash) Sea level changes last 2000 years Andredsweald and Anderida Where are the Roman Roads History of the Romney Marsh The Great Storm 1287AD List of Landscape Documents Local The Saxon Kingdom of the Haestingas The Cinque Ports 914AD Alfred the Great's fort in Hastings Battle Museum Battle History Society Villagenet Local Gazeteer World War 2 Tank database Simon the Piman(Raspberry Pi) Tourist Guides for the area Romans First Invasion 55BC Second Invasion 43AD Roman roads in Britannia Ptolemy Geographica Tribes MAP-Margary Roman Roads MAP-Roman Roads South East MAP-Roman Roads South West MAP-Roman Roads Wales MAP-Roman Roads South Midlands MAP-Roman Roads South Yorkshire MAP-Roman Locations Norfolk MAP-Roman Locations Essex MAP-Wealden Roads/Bloomeries Wealden Bloomeries 1st Century Wealden Bloomeries 2nd Century Wealden Bloomeries 3rd Century Wealden Bloomeries 4th Century MAP-Antonine Itinery I Roman Industry in the Brede Valley Decline in Roman Wealden Ironworking The Gallic Empire 260AD - 274AD Types of Roman Fortification List of Roman Documents Saxon Chronicles 449AD Hengest & Horsa arrive 455AD Hengest & Horsa defeat Wurtgern 457AD Hengest & Horsa take over Kent 460AD Hæstinga Saxons arrive 477AD Cymensora 485AD Suth Saxons Mercredesburnan 491AD Suth Saxons Pevensey 914AD Burghal Hideage Locations - 449AD Ebbsfleet Locations - 455AD Agelesþrep Locations - 485AD Mearcredesburnan Stede Locations - 914AD Eorpeburnan List of Saxon Chronicles Documents 1066 Battle Documentary Evidence Available Documents  1 Anglo Saxon Chronicles  2 Battle Abbey Chronicles  3 Bayeux Tapestry  4 Carmen Guy d'Amiens  5 Florence of Worcester  6 Henry of Huntingdon  7 Master Wace  8 Orderic Vitalis(Gesta)  9 William of Jumièges(Gesta) 10 William of Malmesbury 11 Quedam Exceptiones Reference to Locations Phases of the Events Phases 1066AD  1 Background 1066AD  2 In Normandy 1066AD  3 Channel Crossing 1066AD  4 The Landing 1066AD  5 Feast after Landing 1066AD  6 Building the Forts 1066AD  7 Raiding the Area 1066AD  8 Warning to Harold 1066AD  9 Stamford Bridge 1066AD 10 Harold returns to London 1066AD 11 William is Alerted 1066AD 12 Exchange of Messages 1066AD 13 Defenses 1066AD 14 Harold Reconnoitres 1066AD 15 Preparations 1066AD 16 The Night Before 1066AD 17 The Battle 1066AD 18 Harold is Killed 1066AD 19 The English Rout 1066AD 20 After the Battle 1066AD 21 The Malfosse Warriors, Weapons & Snippets Saxon - Huscarl Saxon - Fyrd(Fyrð) Senlac Hill The Malfosse The Hoar Apple Tree The Shield Wall Salt Production near Hastings The Battle of Jengland 851AD William's Ship List Norman/Viking Ships and stuff Norman bows and crossbows Harold was NOT killed by an arrow The Time Team view of the Battle 1066AD Landscape Details 1066AD Sailing from Normandy 1066AD Norman Landing 1066AD Possible Fort 1066AD to Pevensey and Hastings 1066AD Manors Wasted 1066AD Manors All 1066AD Warning to Harold 1066AD Harold to Hastings  List of 1066AD Documents List of 1066AD Weapons 1086AD Domesday Boundary of Anderida Domesday Hursts Post Domesday Hursts Domesday Manors Wasted UK Norfolk Salt Production Salt Production near Hastings The Wash at 1086 The Humber estuary at 1086 Domesday County details B Bedfordshire Domesday Population Berkshire Domesday Population Buckinghamshire Domesday Population Domesday County details C Cambridgeshire Domesday Population Cheshire Domesday Population Cornwall Domesday Population Domesday County details D Derbyshire Domesday Population Devon Domesday Population Dorset Domesday Population Domesday County details E Essex Domesday Population Domesday County details G Gloucestershire Domesday Population Domesday County details H Hampshire Domesday Population Herefordshire Domesday Population Hertfordshire Domesday Population Huntingdonshire Domesday Population Domesday County details K Kent Domesday Population Domesday County details L Leicestershire Domesday Population Lincolnshire Domesday Population Domesday County details M Middlesex Domesday Population Domesday County details N Norfolk Domesday Population Northamptonshire Domesday Population Nottinghamshire Domesday Population Domesday County details O Oxfordshire Domesday Population Domesday County details R Rutland Domesday Population Domesday County details S Shropshire Domesday Population Somerset Domesday Population Staffordshire Domesday Population Suffolk Domesday Population Surrey Domesday Population Sussex Domesday Population Domesday County details W Warwickshire Domesday Population Wiltshire Domesday Population Worcestershire Domesday Population Domesday County details Y Yorkshire Domesday Population Place names Translate my Location Celtic name snippets Jutish name snippets Roman name snippets Saxon name snippets Viking name snippets Norman name snippets Modern name snippets Villages containing EY/EYE/SEA Villages containing HAM Villages containing TON Villages containing CASTLE Sussex Locations with ING Domesday Sussex with ING Kent Locations with ING Sussex Locations with HURST Loads of Village Translations Res Battle of Hastings 1066AD - The Warning to Harold and its implications This page tries to describe how a warning to Harold could take place and how Harold could assemble an army at London before marching to the Battle of Hastings at Battle in East Sussex. ▼ Travel Speed assumptions for the Saxons ▼ Timeline from the Landing to the Battle ▼ What troops could get to Battle to Fight the Normans ▼ Messenger Times ▼ Huscarl Travel times ▼ Messenger Times   Travel Speed assumptions for the Saxons ▲ Saxon Messengers Assuming that a messenger had two horses, and could change these at regular intervals on the journey then they could probably have traveled 60 - 70 miles per day. We also have to assume the messengers traveled on the old main Roman roads across England. Also if they were to change the horses on a regular basis then there would need to be some form of messenger organisation, or at least a number of known horse changing places on each major road, together with sleeping accommodation for the messengers. We will take 60 miles per day as our mileage for messengers as a worse case scenario. Saxon Huscarls and Nobles We know that the Huscarls were wealthy so probably rode one horse and carried their armour etc on a second horse. They must have traveled by horse, but fought on foot as their Viking axes couln't be effectively wealded on horseback, as they need space to be swung. They wouldn't have been as fast as a messenger due to the weight of their weapons and their treasure etc that they would carry, so their probable maximum speed was about 40 miles per day. Saxon Thegns The Thegns were required to own a helmet, mail armor, a sword, and a horse. Although armoured they weren't as wealthy as the Huscarls or Nobles so probably didn't own a second horse This would mean they couldn't travel as fast, so we will assume a speed of 30 miles per day. Saxon Fyrð The Fyrð would have been armed with weapons provided by their local landowner, so depending on their wealth they may have Chainmail corselets or padded leather jerkins, iron or leather helmets and swords. The poorer or those from a lower castes would be armed with hachets, bills, spears clubs and great picks, iron forks and stakes and most likely a seaxe as backup. They would have traveled by foot, so were unlikely to move more than 17 - 20 miles a day, we will take the lower figure of 17 miles per day for the calculations. Baggage or Carts These would have been unlikely to travel more than about 10 miles per day. Timeline from the Landing to the Battle ▲ To analyse this we need to show a timeline for this event in 1066AD Please Note: Any roads marked M refer to Ivan D Margary Roman roads please see our Margary roads page for full details. September 27th Norman fleet finally sets sail after winds shift, crossing the English Channel. September 28th (days elapsed 0) William lands at Pevensey (Sussex) on September 28, unopposed. The Messenger starts out in the morning from Hastings to travel the 280 miles to York using the Roman roads M13 from Hastings to Rochester, then the M1(Watling Street) to London then the M2(Ermine Street) to Lincoln then the M28 to York. Assuming 70 miles per day then he would take 4.02 days so arriving on the morning of the 2nd October. October 2nd (days elapsed 4) In the morning Harold learns of William's landing, gathers the Huscarls and sends out messengers to the other counties to meet him in London. Harold and the Huscarls ride down the M28 and then M2(Ermine Street) the 211 miles from York via Lincoln to London which at 40 miles per day would take about 5.3 days hence they would arrive late on the 7th. October 7th (days elapsed 9) Harold and the Huscarls arrive in London, now he has to wait for the troops from other areas to arrive, and then to travel the 70 miles to Battle. We now need to calculate when he left London to arrive on the 13th October when his slowest troops the Fyrð only marched 20 miles per day. This means that they need to leave by midday on the 10th of October to reach Battle by the evening of the 13th. October 10th (days elapsed 12) Harold, the Fyrð and the Huscarls leave London by midday or they won't reach Battle by the 14th. October 11th (days elapsed 13) Mounted fighters from areas who have arrived late in London leave for Battle but will only take 2 days to reach Battle. October 13th (days elapsed 15) Harold's army arrives near Battle and has a party. Norman scouts spot the English forces and report to William. October 14, 1066AD The Battle of Hastings begins at ~9 AM. What troops could get to Battle to Fight the Normans ▲ Master Wace provided a list of places where he believed troops came from, is this possible based on the speed of various troop types. The list he provided is as follows: Those of London had come at once, and those of Kent, of Herfort, and of Essesse ; those of Suree and Sussesse, of St. Edmund and Sufoc; of Norwis and Norfoc ; of Cantorbierre and Stanfort ; Bedefort and Hundetone *. The men of Northanton also came ; and those of Eurowic and Bokin keham, of Bed and Notinkeham, Lindesie and Nichole. There came also from the west all who heard the summons ; and very many were to be seen coming from Salebiere and Dorset, from Bat and from Sumerset. Many came too from about Glocestre, and many from Wirecestre, from Wincestre, Hontesire, and Brichesire ; and many more from other counties that we have not named, and cannot indeed recount. Messenger Times ▲ This chart shows when a particular area would receive Harolds troop request by calculating the time from York to the area and dividing it by the messenger speed of 70 miles per day, and applying this to the date Harold received the alert of Williams landing. This gives an approximate date of knowledge of the invasion, then it would take a day to muster the troops before they can leave. County/Town Distance From York Travel Days Messenger News Arrives Bedfordshire(Bedford) 158 2.3 04-Oct-1066 Berkshire(Thatcham) 213 3.0 05-Oct-1066 Buckinghamshire(Buckingham) 162 2.3 04-Oct-1066 Cambridgeshire(Cambridge) 162 2.3 04-Oct-1066 Cheshire(Chester) 112 1.6 04-Oct-1066 Cornwall(Plymouth) 337 4.8 07-Oct-1066 Derbyshire(Derby) 128 1.8 04-Oct-1066 Devon(Exeter) 294 4.2 06-Oct-1066 Dorset(Salisbury) 298 4.3 06-Oct-1066 Essex(Colchester) 216 3.1 05-Oct-1066 Gloucestershire(Gloucester) 189 2.7 05-Oct-1066 Hampshire(Winchester) 238 3.4 05-Oct-1066 Herefordshire(Hereford) 193 2.8 05-Oct-1066 Hertfordshire(Hertford) 184 2.6 05-Oct-1066 Huntingdonshire(Huntingdon) 142 2.0 04-Oct-1066 Kent(Canterbury) 216 3.1 05-Oct-1066 Leicestershire(Leicester) 170 2.4 04-Oct-1066 Lincolnshire(Lincoln) 74 1.1 03-Oct-1066 Middlesex(London) 211 3.0 05-Oct-1066 Norfolk(Norwich) 181 2.6 05-Oct-1066 Northamptonshire(Northampton) 147 2.1 04-Oct-1066 Nottinghamshire(Nottingham) 127 1.8 04-Oct-1066 Oxfordshire(Oxford) 195 2.8 05-Oct-1066 Rutland(Whitwell) 113 1.6 04-Oct-1066 Shropshire(Kidderminster) 157 2.2 04-Oct-1066 Somerset(Bath) 235 3.4 05-Oct-1066 Staffordshire(Stafford) 135 1.9 04-Oct-1066 Suffolk(Bury St Edmunds) 187 2.7 05-Oct-1066 Surrey(Reigate) 247 3.5 06-Oct-1066 Sussex(Chichester) 280 4.0 06-Oct-1066 Warwickshire(Warwick) 143 2.0 04-Oct-1066 Wiltshire(Salisbury) 279 4.0 06-Oct-1066 Worcestershire(Worcester) 132 1.9 04-Oct-1066 Yorkshire(York) 0 0.0 02-Oct-1066   Huscarl Travel times ▲ This chart shows how long it will take Huscarls to travel from their County/Town firstly to London, then on to Battle the Normans at Hastings. Days to London show the number of days to reach London. Days to Battle means the number of days from their Town/County until they get to Battle. If the cell says impossible then they wouldn't be able to reach Battle until after the Battle. County/Town News Arrives Days To London Arrive Days To Battle Arrive Bedfordshire(Bedford)   04-Oct-1066   1.45   07-Oct-1066   3.2   08-Oct-1066 Berkshire(Thatcham)   05-Oct-1066   1.45   08-Oct-1066   3.2   09-Oct-1066 Buckinghamshire(Buckingham)   04-Oct-1066   1.65   07-Oct-1066   3.4   09-Oct-1066 Cambridgeshire(Cambridge)   04-Oct-1066   1.525   07-Oct-1066   3.275   09-Oct-1066 Cheshire(Chester)   04-Oct-1066   5.25   10-Oct-1066   7   12-Oct-1066 Cornwall(Plymouth)   07-Oct-1066   5.35   13-Oct-1066   7.1   impossible Derbyshire(Derby)   04-Oct-1066   2.25   07-Oct-1066   4   09-Oct-1066 Devon(Exeter)   06-Oct-1066   4.95   12-Oct-1066   6.7   impossible Dorset(Salisbury)   06-Oct-1066   3.125   10-Oct-1066   4.875   12-Oct-1066 Essex(Colchester)   05-Oct-1066   1.65   08-Oct-1066   3.4   10-Oct-1066 Gloucestershire(Gloucester)   05-Oct-1066   2.55   08-Oct-1066   4.3   10-Oct-1066 Hampshire(Winchester)   05-Oct-1066   1.625   08-Oct-1066   3.375   10-Oct-1066 Herefordshire(Hereford)   05-Oct-1066   4   10-Oct-1066   5.75   12-Oct-1066 Hertfordshire(Hertford)   05-Oct-1066   0.75   06-Oct-1066   2.5   08-Oct-1066    Huntingdonshire(Huntingdon)   04-Oct-1066   1.925   07-Oct-1066   3.675   09-Oct-1066 Kent(Canterbury)   05-Oct-1066   1.55   08-Oct-1066   3.3   09-Oct-1066 Leicestershire(Leicester)   04-Oct-1066   2.525   08-Oct-1066   4.275   10-Oct-1066 Lincolnshire(Lincoln)   03-Oct-1066   3.925   08-Oct-1066   5.675   10-Oct-1066 Middlesex(London)   05-Oct-1066   0   06-Oct-1066   1.75   08-Oct-1066 Norfolk(Norwich)   05-Oct-1066   2.925   09-Oct-1066   4.675   10-Oct-1066 Northamptonshire(Northampton)   04-Oct-1066   1.675   07-Oct-1066   3.425   09-Oct-1066 Nottinghamshire(Nottingham)   04-Oct-1066   2.2   07-Oct-1066   3.95   09-Oct-1066 Oxfordshire(Oxford)   05-Oct-1066   1.4   07-Oct-1066   3.15   09-Oct-1066 Rutland(Whitwell)   04-Oct-1066   2.8   07-Oct-1066   4.55   09-Oct-1066 Shropshire(Kidderminster)   04-Oct-1066   3.175   08-Oct-1066   4.925   10-Oct-1066 Somerset(Bath)   05-Oct-1066   2.95   09-Oct-1066   4.7   11-Oct-1066 Staffordshire(Stafford)   04-Oct-1066   3.55   08-Oct-1066   5.3   10-Oct-1066 Suffolk(Bury St Edmunds)   05-Oct-1066   2.05   08-Oct-1066   3.8   09-Oct-1066 Surrey(Reigate)   06-Oct-1066   0.55   07-Oct-1066   2.3   09-Oct-1066 Sussex(Chichester)   06-Oct-1066   1.8   09-Oct-1066   3.55   11-Oct-1066 Warwickshire(Warwick)   04-Oct-1066   2.35   07-Oct-1066   4.1   09-Oct-1066 Wiltshire(Salisbury)   06-Oct-1066   2.125   09-Oct-1066   3.875   11-Oct-1066 Worcestershire(Worcester)   04-Oct-1066   4.15   09-Oct-1066   5.9   11-Oct-1066 Yorkshire(York)   02-Oct-1066   5.275   08-Oct-1066   7.025   10-Oct-1066   Messenger Times ▲ This chart shows when a particular area would receive Harolds troop request by calculating the time from York to the area and dividing it by the messenger speed of 70 miles per day, and applying this to the date Harold received the alert of Williams landing. This gives an approximate date of knowledge of the invasion, then it would take a day to muster the troops before they can leave. County/Town Distance From York Travel Days Messenger News Arrives Bedfordshire(Bedford) 158 2.3 04-Oct-1066 Berkshire(Thatcham) 213 3.0 05-Oct-1066 Buckinghamshire(Buckingham) 162 2.3 04-Oct-1066 Cambridgeshire(Cambridge) 162 2.3 04-Oct-1066 Cheshire(Chester) 112 1.6 04-Oct-1066 Cornwall(Plymouth) 337 4.8 07-Oct-1066 Derbyshire(Derby) 128 1.8 04-Oct-1066 Devon(Exeter) 294 4.2 06-Oct-1066 Dorset(Salisbury) 298 4.3 06-Oct-1066 Essex(Colchester) 216 3.1 05-Oct-1066 Gloucestershire(Gloucester) 189 2.7 05-Oct-1066 Hampshire(Winchester) 238 3.4 05-Oct-1066 Herefordshire(Hereford) 193 2.8 05-Oct-1066 Hertfordshire(Hertford) 184 2.6 05-Oct-1066 Huntingdonshire(Huntingdon) 142 2.0 04-Oct-1066 Kent(Canterbury) 216 3.1 05-Oct-1066 Leicestershire(Leicester) 170 2.4 04-Oct-1066 Lincolnshire(Lincoln) 74 1.1 03-Oct-1066 Middlesex(London) 211 3.0 05-Oct-1066 Norfolk(Norwich) 181 2.6 05-Oct-1066 Northamptonshire(Northampton) 147 2.1 04-Oct-1066 Nottinghamshire(Nottingham) 127 1.8 04-Oct-1066 Oxfordshire(Oxford) 195 2.8 05-Oct-1066 Rutland(Whitwell) 113 1.6 04-Oct-1066 Shropshire(Kidderminster) 157 2.2 04-Oct-1066 Somerset(Bath) 235 3.4 05-Oct-1066 Staffordshire(Stafford) 135 1.9 04-Oct-1066 Suffolk(Bury St Edmunds) 187 2.7 05-Oct-1066 Surrey(Reigate) 247 3.5 06-Oct-1066 Sussex(Chichester) 280 4.0 06-Oct-1066 Warwickshire(Warwick) 143 2.0 04-Oct-1066 Wiltshire(Salisbury) 279 4.0 06-Oct-1066 Worcestershire(Worcester) 132 1.9 04-Oct-1066 Yorkshire(York) 0 0.0 02-Oct-1066 Copyright saxonhistory.co.uk 2013 - 2025 Contact Simon Author Simon M - Last updated - 2025-05-08 19:01:36 All pages on our site (Sitemap)