Autumn Talk: An Alternative Location for the Battlefield of Hastings, 1066 – Rebecca Welshman and Simon Coleman
7.30pm - 8.45pm
Online via Zoom
Join us for our first Autumn Talk of the season: An Alternative Location for the Battlefield of Hastings, 1066 with Rebecca Welshman and Simon Coleman
Rebecca Welshman and Simon Coleman join us on Tuesday 15th October, the day after the pivotal Battle of Hastings took place, with their first presentation to an archaeological organisation, following the publication of their article in the International Journal of Military History and Historiography (May 2024). The researchers present evidence supporting an alternative location for the battlefield of Hastings through an illustrated PowerPoint presentation. They examine the military situation and strategic possibilities that arose from the Norman landing, as well as the likelihood that the ‘haran apuldran’ (‘Hore Apple Tree’) mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle D text served as a military assembly point. They propose that ‘Horeappletree Common,’ with its landmark tree, survived for centuries on the downs of Heathfield, marking the boundary between the rapes of Pevensey and Hastings.
Numerous overlooked 18th and 19th century texts, along with historic place names and a long-standing tradition of a Saxon-era battle, indicate a specific area once known as ‘Slaughter Common,’ near the town of Heathfield. Some of these texts even refer to the battle as ‘Heathfield’ rather than ‘Hastings.’ The researchers analyse communication links and the topography to demonstrate how a battlefield at Heathfield Down could have played a role in the fateful 1066 campaign.
They express hope that their research, as well as potential relevant finds from the 1970s, will lead to an archaeological investigation of the Slaughter Common site. Should an alternative site for the Hastings battlefield be confirmed through archaeology, it would have significant implications for the broader history of Sussex.
About the speakers
Dr. Rebecca Welshman is an independent scholar, and Honorary Fellow of the University of Liverpool (2014–17). She works on projects concerning ‘the literary archaeology of place’ – the study of texts in the context of geography, history and environment. Her PhD (University of Exeter, 2010–13) titled ‘Imagining Archaeology’ focused on nature and landscape in 19th century literature, and her bibliographical work identified previously unknown essays and letters by Richard Jefferies. She has presented papers at the World Archaeological Congress, Archaeology in Conflict (Vienna, 2010), and ‘Theatres of War: The British Commission for Military History’s New Researchers’ Conference’ (Lancaster, 2019) where she presented a new interpretation of ‘The Hoar Apple Tree’ of the Battle of Hastings. She has published in historical, cultural, and literary studies. Her latest essay, which highlights military associations in the works of Shakespeare, will appear in Reading the River in Shakespeare’s Britain (2024).
Mr. Simon Coleman obtained a BA Degree in Ancient History and then qualified as an archivist. He has worked in various academic institutions, including the British Library and the universities of Bath and Sussex, and is now at West Dean College in West Sussex. His work has largely focused on archives from the 19th and 20th centuries covering subjects such as literature, art and political history. Outside work he has written articles for the Richard Jefferies Society. Before attending university, he developed an interest in medieval and ancient battles and investigated theories regarding the locations of some Anglo-Saxon battlefields. On moving to East Sussex in 2014 he started to explore the question of the site of the Battle of Hastings, looking at issues around interpretation of sources, landscape changes, and the influence of ‘official’ narratives of events on current debate.
More about the event
Date: Tuesday 15th October
Time: 7.30pm
Location: Online via Zoom
Tickets: Free for Members of The Sussex Archaeological Society or £5 for non-members.
Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. View our ticket terms and conditions here.
Booking information
This talk will be held virtually via Zoom, and joining instructions will be sent via email upon booking.
Tickets are free for members of The Sussex Archaeological Society and £5 for non-members.
Ticketing issues FAQs
What should I do if I don’t receive a booking confirmation with joining instructions?
If you don’t receive booking confirmation within 3 hours of making your booking, please contact us at marketing@sussexpast.co.uk. Emails received later than 3pm on Tuesday 15th October will not be processed in time for the talk, so please contact us as soon as possible.
Outlook and Hotmail email accounts tend to have issues receiving emails from our website. We recommend you use a different email provider such as Gmail if possible, to avoid this.
Will I receive a reminder email with the Zoom link on the day?
No, we won’t be sending any further reminder emails with Zoom links on the day, so please ensure you contact us as soon as possible if you don’t receive your booking confirmation.