House and Garden 
CLOISTER FRONT 
in the carved capital of one of the pillars. 
One other sight must be seen. Excava¬ 
tions have revealed the three eastern chapels 
of the crypt of the beautiful minster. Above 
these once stood the three eastern chapels of 
the church, and nigh these the high altar of 
the church (some distance westward of the 
spot usually pointed out), erected on the place 
where the last Saxon King of England fell, 
and with him the flower of his brave army. 
Tradition, handed down from father to son, 
had for centuries preserved the remembrance 
of this historic spot, 
and the evidence found 
by the spade confirmed 
the truth of the legend. 
This is the most histor¬ 
ic spot in all England. 
Here Harold and his 
brothers were slain 
surrounded by the 
men of London. Here 
was the grave of Sax¬ 
on liberty. Here Wil¬ 
liam knelt in thanks¬ 
giving for the crown¬ 
ing victory of Senlac, 
and giant cedars guard 
the spot hallowed by 
the memories of ancient prowess and the 
death of heroes. 
Pilgrims still come in crowds to visit this 
historic house, though the shrines and holy 
relics have long since vanished, but the privi¬ 
lege of sanctuary has not quite lapsed in this 
place of peace and quiet, girt by its noble 
elms, its yew-tree walks, its hollies, while 
the rooks caw overhead: a very lovely sanc¬ 
tuary from the world’s rude clamour and the 
restlessness of modern life, a garden and a 
house of Peace. 
Battle Abbey from the Court Manor Map, 1724 
124 
