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Battle of Hastings 1066AD - S - The Battlefield Location




Why are alternate sites continuously being suggested ▲

The biggest problem that the story of 'The Battle of Hastings' has is that there is no or very limited physical evidence for a Battle anywhere in the Hastings area.
At the moment there is only one piece of physical evidence dated to the period that has been found in the area, this can be found in Battle Museum and is an axe head dated to the period by an arms expert from one of the London Museums. The axe head can't be carbon dated as it was covered in varnish from the 1950's.

This axe head is the right size for a Battleaxe, however as the Great Oak forest of Andredsweald was in the area, its possibly an axe used for felling oak trees, as these were a similar size and shape in this period.

The axe was donated to the Museum in 1953 and the owners lived in an area of Battle called Marley Lane, however there are no details if this was found there or if it belonged to a relative who lived in the area.

So we have one artifact and no provenance, this is where the alternative sites ideas are derived from.

The 'Time Team' from the Channel 5 TV company came to Battle Abbey in 2003 to discover evidence for the Battle on the claimed Battlefield, which is on a slope to the South East of the Abbey. You can see this episode on the following link 1066 - The Lost Battlefield | Time Team Classic Special (Full Episode) , where they found no evidence, but suggested that the Battle may have been fought eastwards towards Battle Hill on the A2100.

This now has provided a number of sites proposed by various local people who believe the Abbey was built in a convenient place as it is on the main ridgeway out of Hastings, has fresh water and a nearby quarry for stone.

So I will now bring you the various sites that have been proposed, these are on separate pages on the site as one page on all the proposed sites would be difficult to navigate through.

I will try to be analytical in my view, but may be a bit biased in my view on one of the sites but will let you know which one it is.


The sites that have been proposed as at Dec 2025 ▲
 
The sites that have been proposed for the Battle of Hastings
The map above shows the area with the high tides marked in blue, as you can see the area is a peninsular and the way out on land is via Heathfield or Bodiam. Red villages are those marked as destroyed in Domesday, Yellow are marked as damaged and the Green ones are those marked as undamaged settlements. The Forest of Andredsweald is shown as a green shaded area.

Website and Book links for the Battlefield sites ▲

Please note these are not in any specific order.

  • 1. The Hoar Apple Tree
  • 2. Netherfield
    • This is suggested by Simon Mansfield and is based on the landscape around the junction of the Battle Road(B2096) and the Netherfield road at Darvel Down.
       
  • 3. Creep Wood
    • This one is based on a book by Kathleen Richardson - 'The Mystery of Town Creep', and is predicated on the fact that Town Creep is claimed to be an old Roman fort. .
       
  • 4. Normanhurst
    • This location has no one person suggesting it, but is based on the locally held legend that Standard Hill at Ninfield was where William had his flag, and this is the next ridge in the area .
       
  • 5. Ashes Wood
    • This location is suggested by Kevin Casey in his blog.
       
  • 6. Beech Farm Hill
    • This location was originally suggested by Simon Coleman but he has now rejected this site and '1. The Hoar Apple Tree' location has superceeded this site .
       
  • 7. Caldbec Hill
  • 8. Battle Abbey
  • 9. Crowhurst  
  • 10. Whatlington
    • This location is proposed by Fred Waghorn, but to be fair it is a location for the last battle of the Saxons at the Malfosse which is near a proposed hillfort at the White Chapel in Whatlington, this was published in a set of maps in 2010 but used to be online at https://1066history.co.uk/home-page.

      His concept was that the Saxons were all killed on Caldbec Hill by being surrounded by three Norman Armies, one from Hastings, one from Mountfield and one from the Netherfield ridgeway. Anyone not killed then retreats to Whatlington where the final battle was.
       
  • 11. Sedlescombe
  • 12. Blackhorse Hill
    • This is location was proposed by John Barnby in his book '1066: The Lost Hastings Battlefield'
      The Advertising says 'Carefully examines historic accounts and analyses the terrain and topography of the land. Makes use of satellite imagery not previously available. Fully illustrated with maps, 3D models and photographs to present a compelling case.'
 
Chronicle snippets that describe the landscape around the Battle ▲

Anglo Saxon Chronicles
Battle of Hastings 1066AD - The Hoar Apple tree - they met him at the orchard where the hares run

The Bayeux Tapestry
A rough hill is shown but that's all


Battle Abbey Chronicles
  • (William) Having arrived at a hill called Hechelande, situated in the direction of Hastings
  • Upon the hill where the Abbey now stands, the English supported their king in a compact body
  • There lay between the hostile armies a certain dreadful precipice (see our Battle of Hastings 1066AD Observations - Evidence for the Malfosse)
  • The place being marked where the standard of this rash and hostile invasion fell

Master Wace - The Roman de Rou
  • till he erected his standard and fixed his gonfanon right where THE ABBEY OF THE BATTLE is now built
  • he had the place well examined, and surrounded it by a good fosse, leaving an entrance on each of three sides, which were ordered to be all well guarded. (Battle of Hastings 1066AD Observations - Evidence for the Malfosse)
  • The duke stood on a hill, where he could best see his men
  • Harold knew that the Normans would come and attack him hand to hand : so he had early enclosed the field in which he placed his men. (Battle of Hastings 1066AD Observations - Evidence for the Malfosse)
  • They had built up a fence before them with their shields, and with ash and other wood ; and had well joined and wattled in the whole work, so as not to leave even a crevice; and thus they had a barricade in their front, through which any Norman who would attack them must first pass.
  • Meanwhile the Normans appeared, advancing over the ridge of a rising ground
  • Meanwhile, a fresh company came in sight, covering all the plain
  • The youths and common herd of the camp, whose business was not to join in the battle, but to take care of the harness and stores, moved off to wards a rising ground. The priests and the clerks also ascended a hill,
  • In the plain was a fosse, which the Normans had now behind them, having passed it in the fight with out regarding it. But the English charged and drove the Normans before them, till they made them fall back upon this fosse, overthrowing into it horses and men. (Battle of Hastings 1066AD Observations - Evidence for the Malfosse)
  • the combatants are many, the plain wide
  • The English stood firm in their barricades, and shivered the lances, beating them into pieces with their bills and maces. The Normans drew their swords and hewed down the barricades, (Battle of Hastings 1066AD Observations - Evidence for the Malfosse)
  • The English fell back upon a rising ground, and the Normans followed them across the valley,
  • The press was great to cross the bridge, and the river beneath it was deep ; so that the bridge broke under the throng, and many fell into the water. (Battle of Hastings 1066AD - T - A Bridge collapse in the retreat)


The Carmen of Guy d'Amiens
  • Where he advances(Harold) there he lays planks of wood
    And by this means makes dry crossings of rivers
  • And the woods full of gleaming weapons
    Suddenly a company of English emerged from the forest
    And the column rushed from wooded cover
    Nearby was a wooded hill, neighbouring the valley
    Its terrain was rugged and uncultivated
    The English as is their custom advancing crowded together
    The king ascended the summit that he might wage war in the midst of his army
    At the summit of the hill a streaming banner was planted
    The Duke below fearing mastery from the height checks the advancing column
    And boldly approaches the steep slope
  • They gather in tight formation to charge the slope for slaughter
  • The sea is behind back by sea is the way to return
  • When the duke spies the king above on the steep hill
    His hard pressed men are being torn to pieces
  • And so carried with him, returned to his seaside camp
    Swearing it better Harold was buried promptly on the coast of the port under a heap of stones
  • Therefore just as he had vowed high on a cliff
    He ordered the body entombed on the ground at the summit.
    That he may remain sentry over sea and strand


 Florence of Worcester


Henry of Huntingdon


Orderic Vitalis
  • the English troops, assembled from all parts of the neighbourhood, took post at a place which was anciently called Senlac.(Battle of Hastings 1066AD - Senlac Hill where is it? and what might Senlac mean?)
  • The battle commenced at the third hour of the ides [14th] of October, and was fought desperately the whole day, with the loss of many thousand men on both sides.
  • So the Battle raged from the third hour and Harold the King was killed in the first assault.(Harold death conflicts with other Chronicles)
  • Various were the fortunes which attended their retreat ; some recovering their horses, some on foot, attempted to escape by the highways ; more sought to save themselves by striking across the country
  • for, galloping onward in hot pursuit, they fell unawares, horses and armour, into an ancient trench, overgrown and concealed by rank grass, and men in their armour and horses rolling over each other, were crushed and smothered. (Battle of Hastings 1066AD Observations - Evidence for the Malfosse)

Landscape Features affecting the Site of the Battle ▲

If we use all the above factors from the Chronicles then the following features are recorded.

key to the abbreviations below
  •    BT (Bayeux Tapestry)
  •    BC (Chronicles of Battle Abbey)
  •    MW (Master Wace)
  •    CAR (The Carmen of Guy d'Amiens)
  •    FW (Florence of Worcester)
  •    HH (Henry of Huntingdon)
  •    OV (Orderic Vitalis)


1. The Haran Apuldran (Hoar Apple tree ?? ASC) ▲

This is described in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles as the mustering point for Harold.

'Cotton Tiberius B.iv' in Anglo Saxon
Þis wearð þa Harolde cynge gecydd,
he gaderade þa mycelne here,
com him togenes æt þære haran apuldran,
Wyllelm him com ongean on unwær, ær þis folc gefylced wære.

This is the original translation by the Reverend James Ingram (London, 1823)
This was then told to King Harold;
and he gathered a large force,
and came to meet him at the estuary of Appledore.(I believe this would read apuldre ora in Anglo Saxon)
William, however, came against him unawares, ere his army was collected;

However there are a number of other possible translations please see our Hoar Apple Tree page, also it would seem likely that this was near North Down at Heathfield.

2. The Saxons were near a forest (CAR,BT) ▲

This is only found in the Carmen, but worth taking into account as the The Great Oak Forest of Andredsweald was in the area.

The Carmen of Guy d'Amiens
And the woods full of gleaming weapons
Suddenly a company of English emerged from the forest
And the column rushed from wooded cover
Through cover and hiding places in the dense forest

The Bayeux Tapestry
There are a number of trees shown in the Bayeux implying a wooded or forested area.

3. Harold ascended a hill (CAR) ▲

The Carmen of Guy d'Amiens
The king ascended the summit that he might wage war in the midst of his army.

4. The Saxons were on a hill (CAR,BAC,MW,BT) ▲

Battle Abbey Chronicles
Having arrived at a hill called Hechelande, situated in the direction of Hastings
Upon the hill where the Abbey now stands, the English supported their king in a compact body

The Carmen of Guy d'Amiens
The king ascended the summit that he might wage war in the midst of his army.
At the summit of the hill a streaming banner was planted
The Duke below fearing mastery from the height checks the advancing column
And boldly approaches the steep slope
They gather in tight formation to charge the slope for slaughter

Master Wace - The Roman de Rou
till he erected his standard and fixed his gonfanon right where THE ABBEY OF THE BATTLE is now built

The Bayeux Tapestry


5. The Saxons were on a level ground (HH) ▲

Henry of Huntingdon
"The king [Harold] hastened southwards to oppose him, and drew up his army on level ground in that neighbourhood."

6. The Saxons fortify their position (OV,MW,HH,FW,BA,BT) ▲

William of Jumièges
However confidence returned to the fugitives when they found a good chance to renew the battle, thanks to a broken rampart and labyrinth of ditches.

Orderic Vitalis
(The Normans, finding the English completely routed, pursued them vigorously all Sunday night, but not without suffering a great loss ; for, galloping onward in hot pursuit, they fell unawares, horses and armour, into an ancient trench, overgrown and concealed by rank grass, and men in their armour and horses rolling over each other, were crushed and smothered.

Master Wace
and they had moreover made a fosse, which went across the field,
There he said he would defend himself against whoever should seek him ; and he had the place well examined, and surrounded it by a good fosse, leaving an entrance on each of three sides, which were ordered to be all well guarded.

And now might be heard the loud clang and cry of battle, and the clashing of lances. The English stood firm in their barricades, and shivered the lances, beating them into pieces with their bills and maces. The Normans drew their swords and hewed down the barricades, and the English in great trouble fell back upon their standard, where were collected the maimed and wounded.

Henry of Huntingdon
But Harold had formed his whole army in close column, making a rampart that the Normans could not penetrate. Duke William therefore commanded his troops to make a feigned retreat. In their flight they they happened unawares of a deep trench which was treacherously covered into which numbers fell and perished. While the English were engaged in pursuit, the main body of the Normans broke the centre of the enemy's line, which being perceived by those in pursuit over the concealed trench, when they were consequently recalled most of them fell there.

Florence of Worcester
before a third of his army was in fighting order. He gave them battle at a place nine miles from Hastings, where they had built a fort. The English being crowded in a confined position.

The Chronicles of Battle Abbey
here lay between the hostile armies a certain dreadful precipice, caused either by a natural chasm of the earth, or by some convulsion of the elements. It was of considerable extent, and being overgrown with bushes or brambles was not very easily seen, and great numbers of men — principally Normans in pursuit of the English — were suffocated in it

The Bayeux Tapestry
has a scene where horses are seen vertically and a very rough piece of ground goes up to the Saxon positions, this could also be interpreted as a ditch in front of the Saxon lines with men and horses falling into it. A further interesting part of this image is that the legs of the Saxons at the top of the hill are behind the hilltop which could be interpreted as defensive shieldwall above the fosse.

7. The terrain was rugged and uncultivated (BT,CAR) ▲

The Carmen of Guy d'Amiens
Nearby was a wooded hill, neighbouring the valley
Its terrain was rugged and uncultivated

The Bayeux Tapestry


8. The area was called Senlac (OV) ▲

Orderic Vitalis
the English troops, assembled from all parts of the neighbourhood, took post at a place which was anciently called Senlac.

For further details please look at our Senlac hill page.

9. The Battlefield was quite wide and not restricted (MW) ▲

Master Wace
One flies, another pursues swiftly : the combatants are many, the plain wide, the battle and the melee fierce.

11. The Norman camp was at the seaside (CAR,FW) ▲

Carmen of Guy d`Amiens
He gathered the torn-apart body of Harold,
Gathered, he covered it with purple linen,
And carried it with him, returning to his coastal camp,
  Kathleen Tysons translation
And returned with it to his camp by the shore,

Florence of Worcester
 
Landscape Features affecting the Site of the Battle - Summary ▲

This paragraph shows a list of the Landscape features
  1. The Haran Apuldran (Hoar Apple tree ?? ) (ASC)
  2. The Saxons were near a forest (CAR)
  3. Harold ascended a hill (CAR)
  4. The Saxons were on a hill (CAR,BAC,MW,BT,)
  5. The Saxons were on a level ground (MW)
  6. The Saxons fortify their position (OV,MW,HH,FW,BA,BT)
  7. The terrain was rugged and uncultivated (BT,CAR)
  8. The area was called Senlac (OV)
  9. The Battlefield was quite wide and not restricted (MW)
  10. The Battle was 9 miles from Hastings (FW)
  11. The Norman camp was at the seaside (CAR,FW)
  12. The Battle raged from the 3rd Hour (FW,OV)
  13. William was initially on a hill (BAC,MW)
  14. The hill William was on was called Hecheland (BAC)
  15. The Normans advanced over a ridge (MW)
  16. Behind the Normans was another hill (MW)
  17. There was fosse between the forces (MW,HH,FW)
  18. There was a steep slope up to the Saxons (CAR)
  19. Behind the Saxons was another hill (MW)
  20. The sea was behind the Normans (CAR,MW)
  21. Fleeing Saxons were killed when a bridge collapsed (MW)
Please Note: the following are the key to the above list

BT (Bayeux Tapestry)
BC (Chronicles of Battle Abbey)
MW (Master Wace)
CAR (The Carmen of Guy d'Amiens)
FW (Florence of Worcester)
HH (Henry of Huntingdon)
OV (Orderic Vitalis)

Battle times from the Chronicles ▲

Orderic Vitalis writes:
  • Battle was joined on 14th October at the third hour and was bitterly contended all day long with heavy slaughter on both sides.
  • The Battle raged from the third hour and Harold the King was killed in the first assault.(Harold death conflicts with other Chronicles)

Florence of Worcester writes:
  • He gave them battle at a place nine miles from Hastings, where they had built a fort.
  • nevertheless he gave stout resistance from the third hour of the day to nightfall.

Sunrise and Sunset times in October 1066AD ▲

To try to get some idea of possible locations we can try to use the sunrise sunset times that cover this area.

Please be aware that sunrise sunset times vary across every location in the world due to latitude and longitude changes.

Now we can get the modern sunrise/sunset times for Bexhill as this seems to be the probable location of the Norman camp.

So for the 14th October the sunrise/sunset times are 07:19 ->18:07(GMT) this is taken from Time and Date.com However there is light before sunrise and this was 06:46->18:40(GMT), so there is about 34 minutes before dawn where it is light.

Orderic Vitalis writes: So the Battle raged from the third hour and Harold the King was killed in the first assault.(Harold death conflicts with other Chronicles)

So this could mean from sunrise or twilight, and so the start was sometime around 9.45 to 10.15(GMT) using modern calculations, however this may have meant it started before the fourth hour of the day.

Let us assume therefore that the possible start of the Battle was between 09:46 to 11:19(GMT), and ended at the end of the day so lets assume about 17:00.

This would make this battle one of the longest Early Medieval battles.



Map showing possible distances from the Normans coastal base ▲
 
Maximum distance for Battle of Hastings from the Coast
If the start of the Battle was between 09:46 to 11:19(GMT), this would mean that the Normans, allowing 30 minutes to prepare, could have marched at 2.5 mph between 2 and 4 hours from their coastal base, this equates to somewhere between 5 and 9 miles, but could have been less so probably 2 mph to allow for weapons etc that would give 4 miles to a maximum of 8 miles.

The red circle shows a distance of 9 miles from Hastings as per: Florence of Worcester.

The black rectangle shows a 3 hour march from the coast, with a likely minimum distance from the coast of 4 miles (5km) and maximum of 8 miles (12Km)

As you can see this area covers the majority of the suggested sites with the exception of site 1.






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Author Simon M - Last updated - 2026-02-23 15:47:31
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