Norman Conquest Timeline

THE EVE OF BATTLE

Caldbec Hill, 13 October 1066

The vanguard of the English army reached the rendezvous point at Caldbec Hill this evening after spending the night in Maidstone. The main body of the army camped in Rochester and is expected to arrive around dawn. Currently it is making its way down the Hastings road through the dense forest of Andredsweald which is some 20 miles wide at this point.

The vanguard reached Bodiam mid-afternoon. A mile further on it forded the Rother. Two miles beyond that, at Cripps' Corner, it turned west, leaving the old Roman road. From there the troops followed an ancient trackway to avoid crossing the estuary of the Brede at Sedlescombe. The only way to cross the tidal waters there is by ferry. This would take up vital time, and leave the army split and vulnerable to attack.

At Vinehall, the vanguard turned south, following the trackway to a ford on the Brede. Finally it emerged from the forest and arrived at the "hoar apple-tree", which is the designated meeting point for the fyrds of Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

Unfortunately, the main force is now having to negotiate these same trackways through the forest at night and is making poor speed. They are strung out over several miles and it is unlikely that the stragglers will arrive before first light. They will be tired and it is doubtful whether King Harold will be able to put into effect his plan to make an immediate lightning attack on the Normans.

A reconnaissance party sent ahead to assess the strength of the enemy reports that the Normans do indeed have an estimated 7, 500 men, including some 250 of the much feared cavalry. This means that the English army, with a strength of some 8,000, slightly outnumbers the Normans. But Harold only has 3,000 fully armoured fighting men - 1,500 housecarls, 1,000 Danish lithsmen, and 500 well-equipped king's and earls' thegns. These men are a match for any Norman knight. The other 5,000 English fighting men are from the fyrd. They are well armed, but they are not professional soldiers and they are not used to large scale, pitched battles.

It is clear now that the English advance has lost its element of surprise. William has parties of foragers and scouts operating up to 10 miles north of his base in Hastings. They spotted the Harold's advancing army in mid-afternoon and rode back to warn William. The Norman foraging parties were quickly recalled and William's entire army has been ordered to stand to arms. Knowing of Harold's reputation for striking hard and fast, William seems to be expecting a night attack.

Although he has his back to the sea, William is well dug in and is confident that he can withstand a night assault. If it does not come, William has drawn up plans to march out and meet the enemy on open ground where he will have the advantage. Clearly Harold cannot repeat the trick that won him the Battle of Stamford Bridge and catch the Norman's unprepared. One can only hope he has an alternative plan.

Article by Nigel Cawthorne