Find out about stitches in time

What’s new in Battle Museum and the History Society
Tina Greene casting the first stitch SUS-150929-080210001Tina Greene casting the first stitch SUS-150929-080210001
Tina Greene casting the first stitch SUS-150929-080210001

A new book on 1066 by local historians Keith Foord and Neil Clephane-Cameron is available now priced £14 from the Museum, the Old Post Office and British Design, British Made.

Meet the authors at a Book Signing at 7.30 pm at the Battle Memorial Hall in the Wynne Room on Friday 23 October. Free admission.

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‘A Stitch in Time’ at the Battle Museum on Wednesday 14 October at 2.30 pm – meet local embroiderer Tina Green who will demonstrate and explain the techniques used in making the Bayeux Tapestry and talk about the extract she is copying for the Museum’s 2016 exhibition. Free admission for this event: in fact it’s free admission to the Museum all month.

The next History Society talk is ‘Richard III – a bloody tyrant?’ by Dr Philip Stone at 7.30 pm on Thursday 15 October in the Wynne Room, Battle Memorial Hall. All welcome; non-members £4 on the door.

This month in 1065

In October 1065, the Godwines faced a major challenge. Tostig, Earl of Northumbria, brother of Harold, faced a serious rebellion: he was so unpopular that traditionally hostile halves of his earldom united against him and of course soon everyone who had suffered at the rise of the Godwines joined in!

The aim of the rebels was for Morcar, son of a longstanding enemy to the Godwines, to replace Tostig as Earl.

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Harold was sent by King Edward to ask them to stop and assure them that any injustices would be corrected.

The rebels, however, demanded that Tostig should not only be deprived of the earldom but also exiled.

There was little support for Tostig at Court – many believed he had brought the situation on himself. When Harold brought back the message from the rebels, Tostig accused his brother of being in league with them, indeed of provoking the rebellion.

This is highly unlikely – if he wanted to bring his brother down, there were safer ways of doing so. That being said, it was obvious that he did not want to fight the rebels.

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Winter was already setting in and it was difficult to raise troops.

On 27 October, Harold told the rebels that the King accepted their demands: Morcar was made Earl and Tostig made preparations to go into exile, much to the grief of his mother and his sister, the Queen.

Unusual facts about 
Battle

Did you know that the Abbots of Battle carried out military duties? Indeed, Abbot Hamo de Offynton, elected Abbot in 1364, became famous for his gallant defence of Winchelsea in 1377.

After Hamo died five years later, while celebrating Mass, he was described as a ‘great soldier in monks’ clothes’.

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