The first part of the ‘Early History Trilogy of Battle and Eastern
Sussex’ this book covers pre-history, the Roman, Anglo-Saxon and
early English history – mainly as it affected eastern Sussex, but
in a national, even international, context, from the ‘Dawn of Time’
through the so called Dark Ages and early Medieval England until
early 1066.
Before 1066 eastern Sussex, aka Hæstingas, was shaped by its
geology and its geography, with the English Channel to the south,
the dark Andreadsweald forest to the north, and large embayments to
both its east and west. It may have looked more towards Kent than
Sussex for much of its early existence.
The area has been in continuous occupation with periods of intense
early industrial activity. Recent archaeological work confirms
this, and exciting finds continue to be made. It is quite rich in
Bronze Age history, and Britons and then Romans made iron there.
Romans built a giant shore fort but following their withdrawal
Hæstingas probably became pagan again ‒ until King Offa of the
Mercians gave the resources to create minster churches.
Ever open to the sea and potential maritime raiders it slowly grew.
It was never rich, but the people became skilled sailors, in demand
by earls and kings. King Alfred protected it with a new fort (or
two). Its harbours provided ships for trade and war and royal
interest in it grew. Salt was produced in very large quantities and
salted the fish to go to market. The local social and political
environments and the foundation of the precursor of the Cinque
Ports are described.
The succession intrigues and relationship, up until the death of
Edward the Confessor, between William and Harold which led to the
Battle of Hastings are reviewed afresh, using the most modern
sources, as advised by Professor David Bates.
Keith Foord was born and educated in Hastings, before attending Sheffield University and Medical School. Returning to the Hastings area to work he now lives in Battle. With a long term interest in both the area and its history, he started to write history books after his retirement and has been encouraged in this by Professors John Gillingham and David Bates in their association with his local history society. The former advised on his book co-authored with Neil Clephane-Cameron '1066 and the Battle of Hastings -Preludes, Events and Postscripts' in 2015 for the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, and the latter on his most recent book 'Harold Godwinson' - a vivid and thought provoking narrative of King Harold's life, mythology and family.
Every reader will find sections which they find especially
interesting and inspiring...it is the sheer dynamism of the
region's history that Keith Foord brings alive. Professor David
Bates
Foord regards the area that first experienced the Norman invasion
as the focus of an international programme of events, the endpiece
of which was the Confessor's death...The text traverses many eras
without losing its way and is particularly strong on the era of the
kingdoms and sub-kingdoms of Sussex, before assessing in detail the
run-up to 1066 and the associated Anglo-French political intrigue.
Part of a review of this book by the British Association for Local
History
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