One of the unexpected pleasures of walking the 1066 Country Walk is discovering the ten sculptures positioned along the route. Created by Sussex artist Keith Pettit, the works draw on the Bayeux Tapestry, the Norman Conquest and the landscape through which you are walking. Some are obvious landmarks; others are remarkably easy to miss. Together, they create a second trail within the trail – ten artworks to find as you make your way from Pevensey to Rye.
Landings – Pevensey Castle
What: A Norman longboat
Where: Just inside the walls of Pevensey Castle
Story: Represents the arrival of William the Conqueror’s Norman fleet at Pevensey in September 1066. This is the natural place to begin the sculpture trail and the 1066 Country Walk itself.
Isti Mirant Stella – Herstmonceux
What: Halley’s Comet
Where: Herstmonceux
Story: Inspired by the appearance of Halley’s Comet in 1066 and its depiction in the Bayeux Tapestry. William interpreted the comet as a favourable omen for his campaign. Isti Mirant Stella – “These men marvel at the star” – refers directly to the scene depicted in the tapestry. This one is easy to spot as it is on the trail.
Rest – The Ash Tree Inn, Brownbread Street
What: The horses of the Norman invasion
Where: In the garden of the Ash Tree Inn
Story: Depicts the horses carried across the Channel by the Norman fleet and used during the invasion, presented here in a rather more weary and sorry state, right in the corner of the pub garden.
Window – Great Park Farm, Catsfield
What: Creatures inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry
Where: Great Park Farm, just off the main 1066 Country Walk
Story: Draws on the strange and exotic animals that appear within the borders of the Bayeux Tapestry. This is very easy to miss as it is not actually on the trail and the information board is but doesn’t tell you exactly where to find it. Travelling west to east, cross the road after Catsfield and it is at What3Words:hazelnuts.hurt.irrigate
Bound Division – Battle Abbey
What: Harold and William, connected by the crown
Where:Among the trees shortly before reachingBattle Abbey
Story: Portrays the two protagonists of 1066 – King Harold and William – simultaneously divided and unified by their claim to the English crown. Look carefully: This sculpture is particularly easy to miss and, when we walked the route, there was no obvious information board beside it. and it is in the woods, set back from the path a little.
Hidden Truth – Battle Great Wood
What: The crown
Where: Battle Great Wood
Story: Represents the English crown at the heart of the conflict of 1066. Don’t forget to look inside the crown as well.
Farbank’s Henge – Pattleton’s Farm
What: Six carved wooden monoliths and living hawthorn
Where: Beyond Pattleton’s Farm
Story: Six carved monoliths form a contemporary wooden henge. New hawthorns have been planted within the work and are beginning to grow amongst and around the carved timber, making the living landscape part of the sculpture itself. It represents the distinctive trees depicted throughout Bayeux Tapestry and is intended to evoke the feeling of an ancient prehistoric landscapes. It’s two fields after Pattleton’s Farm, just as you go through the gate and is one of our favourites.
Legacies – Guestling
What: Entwined Saxon and Norman roots
Where: Lower Snailham Farm
Story: Symbolises the interwoven Saxon and Norman legacies left by the events of 1066. A living tree appears to grow within the sculpture itself, reinforcing the idea of roots, inheritance and the way the two cultures became entwined. It is as the top of the steep climb as you come to Lower Snailham.
The Watcher – Wickham Manor
What: A sentry looking towards the coast
Where: Wickham Manor, near Winchelsea
Story: One of the most strikingly positioned sculptures on the trail. The Watcher stands like a sentry, looking out across the landscape towards the sea and recalling the ships, invasion and coastal defences that have shaped this part of Sussex. It’s another of our favourites.
Treow – Rye
What: Entwined trees
Where: Close to the end of the 1066 Country Walk in Rye
Story: Treow is the Anglo-Saxon word for tree or truth and it was inspired by the trees and imagery depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry. It is just before the footpath joins the road and is the final one on the route.
Finding the Sculptures
The ten sculptures effectively create a treasure trail along the 1066 Country Walk. Don’t assume that you will automatically spot every one simply by following the path. Most are marked by a helpful information board which also tells you where to find the next one, but not all of them are. Some are tucked into the landscape or sit a short distance from the main trail. But along with the information, they add depth to an otherwise already fabulous walk.
We recommend knowing roughly where each sculpture should appear before setting out – and keeping your eyes open.
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