Just outside Battle, in East Sussex, is the little village of Crowhurst. It feels quite remote, down a wiggly little lane, but it has an intriguing story (or two) to tell.
The village dates back to the Saxon era, when it belonged to the Bishop of Selsey (long before the seat of the Bishop of Sussex was moved to Chichester). He built a church here at some point after the year 771. Despite feeling a long, long way away, this church is, of course, still part of the Diocese of Chichester. The current church dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries but has largely been rebuilt since, with one of the oldest parts now being the 15th century tower.
The yew tree
In the churchyard is a yew tree (often confused with an ancient yew tree at Crowhurst in Surrey), which is thought to have been planted around 700 AD, possibly at the time the first church was built here. Yew trees were symbolic and a sign of eternal life and the resurrection, which is why they are often found in churchyards.
King Harold and the yew
It is a magnificent tree, and what is known is that it would almost certainly have been here in the years immediately before 1066. King Harold owned a manor in Crowhurst, and his wife, Edith Swanneck, lived here at one time. Although the manor was destroyed by the Normans, it is perfectly possible that Harold could have stood here, under this very tree. There is also a local legend that Harold’s magistrate was hanged from the tree for refusing to reveal where Harold’s treasure was hidden. Although some say this was at nearby Whatlington.
The William yew
Some 14 miles away from Crowhurst, in the tiny village of Wilmington, just west of Eastbourne, is another ancient yew. It grows in the grounds of St Mary and St Peter’s Church, and it is believed it may have been planted in about 400 AD. The church of St Mary and St Peter dates from the 12th century, although there may have been an earlier wooden Saxon church. The church is associated with the Benedictine Priory next to it, which was founded in the mid 11th century by Herluin de Conteville and his wife, Herleva (Arlette), the mother of William the Conqueror. Of course, we’ll never know, but it’s not inconceivable that William would have stood chatting with his mother next to the tree as work on the priory got underway. So, two ancient trees stand symbolic of the two men who shaped history.
The Battle of Hastings mystery
There is a local historian, Nick Austin, who believes that the Battle of Hastings is much more likely to have happened at Telham Hill, near the church at Crowhurst, than at the site in Battle. And indeed, he has published several books on the subject. He supports his claims with geology and geography, various historic manuscripts, finds, and surveys which include a marker stone which he says is inscribed with Here lies Harold and a drawing.
Crowhurst Manor and the buckle
After the Norman invasion, Crowhurst passed to Norman, Robert Count of Eu, then to the Fitz-Lambert family, Walter de Scotney (who rebuilt the manor now in ruins in 1250) and in 1412, to Sir John Pelham. The Pelham family was a powerful landowning dynasty across Sussex. Sir John Pelham served as a key figure under Henry IV.
If you look carefully, opposite the ruins, there is a large engraving that seems to be engraved with the Pelham Buckle. According to legend, the buckle was part of the sword belt of the captured French King Jean II, awarded to Sir John Pelham (this Sir John’s father) for his bravery in 1356.
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The Battle of Hastings 1066: the Battle that Changed Sussex & History
