Friday, August 22, 2008

England 08: Hastings

On Day 3, we took the train to Hastings, sight of the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066 (lthough it really took place a few miles away in Battle). At this battle, William, heir to the English throne, defeated and killed Harold Godwinson, the last Saxon King of England, and destroyed his army. It was on the sight on a Saxon castle that William built his castle.

Today, part of the original castle still stands on top of the sandstone cliffs near the Channel. You can walk to the top or take the West Hill Lift. Once you get to the top, you have a beautiful view of the English Channel and Hastings below.
The town itself is very much like all of the other seaside towns, full of knick-knack shops and ice cream parlors.

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