I live in the beautiful 1066 Country here in Sussex UK and I have never stopped learning about it’s history.
Brought up in the old town of Hastings (the Fishing Quarter) and it was like a town of it’s own set apart from the main town just to the west.
The fishing fleet that has fished the waters around our coast since I don’t know when.
There is a funicular railway that takes you from the stade in the fishing quarter up the cliff onto the East hill, where you can walk for miles through glens and right on to the Country Park.
The Old Town is set in a valley, The East Hill on one side and to the other we have the West Hill, another lift will carry you up to save your legs.
On this hill is The Hastings Castle built by William the Conqueror's orders by his half brother Ode, Bishop of Bayeux, shortly after the Battle of Hastings which changed the course of history. William, who was crowned on Christmas Day 1066, handed control of the castle and surrounding areas to the Count of Eu who held it for most of the Norman reign.
The ruins of this once magnificent castle with its "Whispering Dungeons" are well worth a visit.
Across the other side of the hill lies the St Clements Smugglers Caves, Smuggling was widespread over 200 years ago and a countless number of people were involved in this illegal trade. Avoiding the customs men was a dangerous game. The labyrinth of tunnels and caverns that run under the West Hill provided them with the ideal place to hide their ill-gotten gains.
Over the years these caves were extended, and during the second world war were used by a large number of people as an air raid shelter. Many more or less lived there setting up beds for the long nights. It became quite a close community as several talented people entertained with accordian, drums etc., they even had their own kind policeman (George) on hand.
My family were one of the many who used to spend our nights their.
Nowadays these caves are open to the public as The Smugglers Adventure with life-size figures of smugglers and its interactive zone. This is sure to give all the family a thrill.
To the west of Hastings lies Pevensey with the actual Pevensey Castle which the Normans bult surrounded by the walls of a long forgotten Roman Settlement.
Just along the coast to the East of Hastings are the ancient towns of Winchelsea and Rye, with there cobbled streets and ancient buildings and Weekly Market
Just in land 7 miles from Hastings is Battle where the Famous Battle of Hastings was fought on Senlac Hill this is where Williams Army defeated Harold and won the day.
Battle Abbey is this small towns most prominent building and backs on to the battlegrounds themselves.
Further in land is Bodiam and the wonderful Bodiam Castle that looks as if it has come out of a fairy story.
All this lies on the edge of the Garden of England, where else would anybody not feel lucky to have been brought up here.
