BattleVISIT / Bexhill / Hastings / Herstmonceux / Pevensey / Rye VISIT1066COUNTRY.COM HASTINGS & 1066 COUNTRY VISITOR ATTRACTIONS 2018 BEXHILL – CUTE AND Bexhill Old Town is set slightly QUIRKY BY THE SEA inland and houses antique shops HASTINGS & 1066 COUNTRY Behind its modern vintage and charming architecture, the façade, quirky Bexhill conceals an perfect place for those who like Welcome eventful past. Not only was it the to bargain hunt. Enjoy the classic trailblazing birthplace of British Georgian buildings, 16th century This majestic part of the south-east coast takes in Battle, Bexhill, motor racing, it was also infamously cottages and Parish Church Hastings, Herstmonceux, Pevensey, Rye and Camber. Set in tranquil, BATTLE – A TOWN BUILT the first resort to allow men and of St Peter with its 8th century rolling countryside it’s perfect for a cultural break or family fun. ON HISTORY 1090 and now houses the Town women to swim together on the reliquary stone and the peaceful Council and the Battle Museum Manor Gardens. The attractive town of Battle same beach. What scandal! Steep yourself in culture and history as you explore fairytale castles, of Local History. The parish church gets its name from the Battle of Egerton Park is located to the west beautiful gardens, quirky museums and award-winning art galleries. of St Mary was built mainly in Home to the innovative De La Hastings in 1066, when William of the town centre and is beautifully Sample local wines at our vineyards and enjoy fine dining and the 12th century and is home to Warr Pavilion, the UK’s first public the Conqueror defeated Harold landscaped with its own boating sustainable seafood fresh from the boat. rare 14th century paintings and building built in the Modernist the Saxon king. style, the town is a pioneering lake, tennis courts and children’s a Norman font. The cottages adventure playground. The Build sandcastles, swim in Blue Flag seas or row up the River To celebrate his victory, William centre for the arts hosting and houses near the abbey date acclaimed Bexhill Museum is next Rother. If the sun’s hiding, go deep inside the smugglers’ caves, visit built the imposing abbey that contemporary exhibitions, events from around 1700, and there are door, where among its treasures the world’s largest underground skate park, or get up close and stands in the heart of Battle, and and entertainment. notable Georgian houses along you can see patron Eddie Izzard’s personal with creatures of the deep at the aquarium. you can still visit the very spot the High Street. Bexhill has its own unique family train set. where King Harold fell. Over time A new, contemporary statue makes character and charm; there are a thriving market town built up visit1066country.com/bexhill CONTENTS a striking impact as you enter no chain stores here or bright around the abbey, its layers of the town from the northern end, neon seafront attractions. Instead INTRO 3-5 SURROUNDING AREA 16 -19 history visible in its architecture. erected in 2016 to mark the 950th there are high quality shops, many with a distinctive retro style, BATTLE 6 EVENTS 24-26 It hosts an eclectic mix of anniversary of the great battle. independent shops, restaurants, The statue plays homage not just locally owned eateries and a BEXHILL 7 ACCOMMODATION 30-32 historic pubs and tea rooms. to the 7,000 human lives lost, but contemporary promenade with HASTINGS 8 - 14 REGISTERED GUIDES/COACH PARKS 33 award-winning stylish shelters, At the northern end of town is also to horses killed in action. play areas and modern planting. RYE 15 DIRECTIONS/TRAVEL 34-35 the Almonry, which was built in visit1066country.com/battle VISIT1066COUNTRY.COM 3 HASTINGS & 1066 COUNTRY VISITOR ATTRACTIONS 2018 HASTINGS – SALTY AIRED PEVENSEY AND The main attraction however RYE – COBBLED HILLTOP Mermaid Street, where a mix of varied landscape of saltmarsh AND FULL OF SURPRISES HERSTMONCEUX – is Pevensey Castle, with a TOWN WITH A TOUCH timber-framed inns and elegant and reed beds, where sea kale CASTLES AND STARS OF LUXURY Hastings is a treat for the senses, history stretching back over 16 houses rejoice in eccentric blooms through shingle ridges full of salty-aired seaside charm Quietly eccentric Pevensey is a centuries. Originally a Roman One of the most enchanting names. Many of the beautifully and marsh mallows flower in the cut through with whispers of the delightful tiny village, its shingle fort constructed in the 4th towns in England, medieval Rye preserved medieval, Tudor and ditches. Hides offer the perfect past and flashes of the future. beaches fronted by an eclectic century, Pevensey Bay was also perches on a steep hill looking Georgian buildings are open shelter to watch the wildlife, Here you’ll find the grace of a mix of Edwardian town houses, the landing place for William the out over flat marshes. You would to the public as fine restaurants, including spectacular migrating traditional fishing boat setting shacks and detached bungalows. Conqueror’s army in 1066, and never know it now, but it was tearooms or pubs. birds in autumn and flocks of went on to survive a fierce siege once one of the busiest ports lapwings in winter. out to sea at dawn, the dark Dotted along the coast are four Down from the hill, where once in 1265. in Britain, with heavy ships romance of smuggling by Martello towers, small defensive there was sea, you’ll find Rye visit1066country.com/rye docking right at the foot of the moonlight, and the crumbling forts built to prevent invasion in Herstmonceux too is renowned Harbour Nature Reserve, now a hill. Over time the estuary silted remains of a conqueror’s castle. the 1800s, and to the north east, for its magnificent castle, a the history of medieval England You’ll find beautiful old pubs, up, leaving Rye – quite literally – Pevensey Levels is a natural moated majesty set in beautiful with the romance of Renaissance The centuries have woven a plenty of live music and every high and dry. haven for wild birds, flowers parkland and wonderful rich tapestry, and Hastings is style of restaurant, from fish & Europe. You’ll be enchanted and animals. Elizabethan gardens. It combines The High Street is full of an full of surprises. Wander the chips to award winning cuisine. from the moment it first breaks excellent array of delicatessens, preserved Old Town’s winding And if you’re a fish lover, this into view as you approach – bookshops and other quirky streets and tiny twittens crammed is the place to feast on the stunning! independent emporia. Luxury with Tudor houses and flower- freshest seafood, caught using The amazing Observatory products, antiques, books, records bedecked cottages, inhale the sustainable methods and landed Science Centre is nearby, set and artisan goods are Rye’s hard-working fishing quarter literally metres away. among the green domes and specialty. Art and photography with its towering net huts and telescopes of a world-famous Antique hunters will enjoy the galleries are evidence of a ramshackle huts on the beach, astronomical building. It offers many bric-a-brac and Collector’s flourishing creative community, stroll the award-winning interactive hands-on scientific architecture of the restored outlets in the Old Town and and offer a warm welcome. St Leonards, as well as a wide experiences for all the family, with pier and grind (or perhaps just A walk around the charming variety of hip cafes and traditional regularly changing exhibitions. spectate) at the world’s largest cobbled streets is essential, tea rooms for refuelling. visit1066country.com/pevensey underground skate park, housed especially to the famous in a Victorian hot baths. visit1066country.com/hastings 4 VISIT1066COUNTRY.COM VISIT1066COUNTRY.COM 5 HASTINGS & 1066 COUNTRY VISITOR ATTRACTIONS 2018 Visitor Attractions 1066 BATTLE OF HASTINGS, ABBEY & BATTLEFIELD BEXHILL MUSEUM EGERTON PARK High Street, Battle, TN33 0AD Egerton Road, Bexhill, TN39 3HL Located behind Bexhill Museum. 1066 Country offers a wealth of places to explore in a small but Egerton Road, Bexhill, TN39 3HL impressive area and this guide gives a brief flavour of T 01424 775705 T 01424 222058 E E [email protected] W rother.gov.uk/egerton the charms that lie at the heart of this truly famous place. [email protected] W english-heritage.org.uk/battle W bexhillmuseum.co.uk Most attractions are open all year round – Egerton Park offers a wide range of visit1066country.com/attractions Stand where England’s future was Bexhill Museum offers something facilities including a children’s play- fought. Explore the new sculpture trail, for everyone from local history and zone, fitness area and tennis courts. witness the gatehouse rooftop views, archaeology to fashion and Bexhill’s The park is also home to both an and hear stories unfold. Experience motor heritage. Operate Eddie indoor and outdoor bowling club. the atmosphere for yourself. Izzard’s childhood working train set. Open: Every day during daylight Adult £13.00, Concession £11.70, Adults £3, Concs £2.50, Free entry Open: Daily April to October. New for 2018, see one of Queen hours. Child £7.90, Family £33.90 Go to website for opening times. Victoria’s dresses. BATTLE MUSEUM OF LOCAL HISTORY SEDLESCOMBE DE LA WARR PAVILION, BEXHILL ORGANIC VINEYARD The Almonry, Battle, TN33 0HW Marina, Bexhill, TN40 1DP T 01424 775955 T 014 2 4 2 2 9111 E [email protected] W dlwp.com W battlemuseum.com We are a pioneering centre for the Hawkhurst Rd, TN32 5SA The Museum, set in award-winning arts. A place where everyone can T 01580 830715 gardens, covers 125 million years experience contemporary exhibitions, of local history.