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Battle Abbey
Also known as, or recorded in historical
documents as; Bello
In the civil parish of Battle.
In the historic county of Sussex (Modern Authority of East Sussex, 1974 county of East Sussex).
Abbey has substantial gatehouse with portcullis and murder holes of C14 date and precinct wall with possible wallwalk. Possibly fortified in response to French raids, peasant unrest or purely for status reasons. Licence to crenellate granted to Abbot Alan of Kertling in 1338. A licence was also granted to Sir Anthony Browne to 'embattle and fortify buildings within the site of the late monastry of Battle' in 1544. However, he shortly after this obtained Cowdray and it is doubtful if he lived here although he did commence some work, possibly for a palace intended for Princess Elizabeth.
This site has been described as a;
Fortified Ecclesiastical site.
The confidence
that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Masonry ruins/remnants remains.
A Royal licence
to crenellate was
granted in 1338 June 9.
A Royal licence
to crenellate was
granted in 1554 July 28.
This site is a scheduled
monument protected by law.
This site is a
Grade 1 listed
building protected by law*. (Images
of England number 292121)
The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TQ74911568
PastScape number;
414519
- Web site links
- Books
- Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol3 (Cambridge) p306-7
Jones, R., 2003, 'Hastings to Herstmonceux: the castles of Sussex' in Rudling, D. (ed) The archaeology of Sussex to AD2000 (Great Dunham: Heritage Marketing and Publications) p171-8
Coed, J. and Boxer, A., 1999, The Battle of Hastings and the story of Battle Abbey (London; English Heritage)
Searle, E., 1974, Lordship and Community: Battle Abbey and Its Banlieu 1066-1538
Page, Wm (ed), 1973, 'Houses of Benedictine monks: Abbey of Battle' VCH Sussex Vol2 p52-6 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=36583
Timbs, J. and Gunn, A., 1872, Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales Vol1 (London) p360-3
Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p312, 412
Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1853, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol2 p290
- Journal Articles
- Woodburn, Bill and Guy, Neil, 2005-6, 'Battle Abbey Gatehouse' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol 19 p56-9
Braksear, H., 1933, 'The Abbot's House at Battle' Archaeologia Vol83 p139-66
Coulson, C., 1982, 'Hierarchism in Conventual Crenellation: An Essay in the Sociology and Metaphysics of Medieval Fortification' Medieval Archaeology Vol26 p69-100
- Guidebooks
- Coad, J.G., 1984, Battle Abbey (English Heritage)
anon, n.d., Battle Abbey Sussex (Olivers Printing Works)
- Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents
- This section is far from complete and the secondary
sources should be consulted for full references.)
- Calendar of Patent Rolls (1338-40) p92
Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII Vol19 pt1 p637 no1035.150
Most of the sites or buildings
recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission
to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant |
The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of English
Heritage and other individuals and organisations. |
It is an offence to disturb a
Scheduled Monument without consent. It is a destruction of
everyone's heritage to remove archaeological evidence from any site
without proper recording and reporting. Don't use metal detectors on historic sites without authorisation. |
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*The listed building
may not be the actual medieval building, but a building on the site
of, or incorporating fragments of, the described site.
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