Battle, East Sussex

Coordinates: 50°55′N 0°29′E / 50.92°N 0.48°E / 50.92; 0.48

Battle is a small town and civil parish in the local government district of Rother in East Sussex, England. It lies 55 miles (89 km) south southeast of London, 32 miles (51 km) east of Brighton and 24 miles (39 km) east of the county town of Lewes. Nearby towns include Hastings to the southeast and Bexhill-On-Sea to the south.

It is the site of the Battle of Hastings, where William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold II to become William I in 1066.

Battle is situated in the heart of the Sussex Weald in the designated High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The population of the civil parish was 6,048 according to the 2001 census, increasing to 6,673 with the 2011 Census. Battle has two senior schools, Claverham Community College and Battle Abbey.

The Abbey

Battle Abbey was founded to commemorate the battle, and dedicated in 1095. The high altar of the Abbey church was reputedly on the spot where Harold died. The Abbey gateway is still the dominant feature of the south end of the main street, although little remains of the rest of the Abbey buildings. The remaining cloisters, part of the west range, were leased to Battle Abbey School shortly after World War I, and the school remains in occupancy to this day.