The Kings Head public house in Mount Street. If there is one thing Battle is not short of is public houses. This photograph of the Kings Head has been included not only to show a traditional English pub, but more to point out the sign hanging from it. It depicts what Harold by various accounts was supposed to look like. He was thought to have had blond or fair hair and almost certainly would have sported a moustache, as it was in fashion at the time. Another interesting observation that readers from countries without buildings as old as ours would make is that anybody taller than about 5 feet 8 inches would have to duck to enter most of them. This indicates how the average height of western people has increased over the centuries.

 

 

A view in the opposite direction to the first photograph. St Mary's church is on the right and the abbey perimeter wall on the left.

 

 

St Mary's Church. Note how the style and architecture is in keeping with the abbey.

 

 

Within the grounds of St Mary's church is this sign depicting the events of 1066 and St Valery sur Somme. As you are probably aware by now, William's fleet departed this place to begin his voyage and eventual successful invasion of England. Secondly, we have a quaint modern tradition of twinning. Battle, not surprisingly is twinned with St Valery sur Somme. The purpose of twinning is usually to facilitate cultural exchange. The process of twinning is endemic in England and almost every village or town you pass through is twinned with one or more like places in Europe.

 

 

The Pilgrim's Rest. I suppose if you ask anybody from abroad what their idea of a traditional Englishman is, the words tea and roast beef would surely be voiced somewhere in the conversation. This cafe to the left of the abbey main entrance can supply both. In England everything stops for tea. Even the Battle of Hastings stopped for refreshments half way through. So civilized, don't you think ?

 

 

This photograph taken further along Mount Street shows the diversity of architecture in style and age. The house in the distance indicates it was constructed many hundreds of years ago.