Pop in on Battle’s Gala Night

Battle Museum of Local History has met its fundraising target for the new battle axe exhibition!

Many thanks to all of those who have contributed to the campaign and who have generously given their time to help the Museum.

Battle Museum will be open for the Christmas Gala Night from 6.00-8.00 pm on Thursday 10 December – as well as looking round the Museum and visiting the shop, you will have the opportunity to meet Tina Greene and check on the progress of the section of the Bayeux Tapestry she is re-creating for the Museum’s exhibition next season.

The Museum Shop will also be open from 11.00-3.00 pm from Friday 11 December to Saturday 19 December inclusive.

The next History Society talk is ‘Who really got us to the Moon first’ by David Baker at 6 for 6.30 pm (NB the early time) on Thursday 17 December in the Wynne Room, Battle Memorial Hall. All welcome; non-members £4 on the door. BDHS Party afterwards.

This month in 1065

King Edward was dying. He was very keen to attend the dedication of his new Church at Westminster – the building was nearly finished but this month saw frantic activity in building temporary accommodation for the people who were coming to attend the festivities.

In the meantime, the nobles were gathering for the Christmas Court. The King attended the Christmas Day meal but ate little or nothing. By 28 December, he was too ill to attend the dedication of his new abbey.

Instead, Queen Edith attended in his place.

Harold would almost certainly have been busy trying to ensure that there would be no serious opposition to him taking the throne when the King died; William was no doubt watching events closely!

Fascinating facts about Battle

Did you know that an early astronomer came from Battle? Edmund Langdon is mentioned in a volume of manuscripts among the records of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford as the writer of an astronomical work of which the following is the given as the title: ‘Speculum Planetarum, or plaine Tables, whereby the Planet governing the Signes ascending at one instant is easily knowne in any hour of the day or night, with the pleasant and profitable use thereof; Compiled and collected by Edmund Langdon, General Practitioner in Astronomy and Phisicke’.

His address ‘to the Reader’ concludes ‘And so wishing all good and happiness to you, and all them that feare God, I end this short epistle from Battel in Sussex, this tenth day of December 1610. Yours in the Lorde, Edmund Langdon’.

Do you know any more about Edmund Langdon?

If so, please contact us via [email protected]