HASTINGS - THE LAND OF CASTLES, MONASTERIES AND THE BATTLEFIELD.
Orders for this work having been received from the Colonies and America, the Author believes that views and descriptions of the Old Castles, etc., in the neighbourhood of Hastings, will be appreciated by those residing in our " Dominions over the Seas."
Hastings Castle is fully described with accompanying views in previous pages.
Battle Abbey was built in 1066 by William the Conqueror to commemorate his victory over Harold the Saxon. The decisive Battle of Hastings, fought October 14th, 1066, which deprived Harold of his life and crown, and by which William, Duke of Normandy, achieved the Conquest of England, was the grand
object which the Conqueror, by the founding of this Abbey, purposed to perpetuate, although the Conqueror did not live to see the finishing of his work - completed about a quarter-of-a-century after his death during the lifetime of his unworthy son - William Rufus. The circumstances attending the invasion are matter of the Chronicles of the time. The High Altar of the Abbey is said to have been erected on the spot where Harold and the royal standard fell. It is a magnificent pile of buildings, and is still in a wonderful state of preservation. William the Conqueror landed his army on the shore between Pevensey and Hastings, where he made his headquarters, for 15 days, before he marched to battle. Harold was in Yorkshire, and by forced marches reached Sussex in time to marshal his forces to meet the attack of the Norman hosts. The Battle and the history of the Abbey has been written by several authorities. In 1538 the Abbey was suppressed at the Dissolution by Henry VIII. and the Abbey and its possessions -
