Year 7 trip to Battle Abbey

After a rather long coach journey, we arrived at Battle Abbey where we were introduced to a man dressed as an Anglo Saxon. He talked to us about the events of 1066. I learnt a lot about what happened during the actual battle ‐ how the Normans had quite a few archers and the Anglo Saxons had hardly any. He told us that the Anglo Saxons used their shields to create a wall by linking them together making it very hard for the Normans to attack. However, this unfortunately eventually crumbled giving the Normans the victory.

Not long after the talk we were split into two groups ‐ the Normans and the Anglo Saxons. I was an Anglo Saxon and we were each given shields. We went outside to re‐enact the events of the battle… without hittng one another!

After the talk and a brief break for lunch we returned inside to watch a short film about the events of 1066 which, I found, very interesting. The film helped us to imagine what it would have been like if we were there, watching the events unfold before our own eyes. When the film finished we went back outside to walk around the field where the actual battle took place. It was quite steep and I could sympathise with the Normans as they were up and down the slope all day ‐ it must have been exhausting!

Last but not least, we were given a tour of Battle Abbey School by one of the monks. It was very interesting as he explained there are lots of unexplored places within the school. The doors are permanently locked and they cannot be knocked down or opened to see what is behind them as the Abbey is a listed building.

In the entrance to the school there is a massive painting on the wall which is, in fact, the largest canvas painting in the country. After the tour we had tea in the Library which, I am sure, everyone will agree was an excellent way to end such an informative trip. We all gained a better understanding of the events of 1066.

by Tom C (Year 7)