Private Guided 1066 Pevensey Tour
Half Day (2 – 3 hours) – is restricted to your group and can be customised to suit your requirements
Available morning or afternoon
This tour includes a walk of around 2 miles over mostly flat but sometimes rough and uneven terrain. If your party includes a wheelchair user it can be modified to accommodate.
Our 1066 Pevensey tour meeting place will be at the East Gate of the Roman walls that surround Pevensey Castle, next to the castle car park, if you are arriving by car. If you are arriving by train you will be met at the exit to the Pevensey and Westham train station.
I will begin our tour by explaining the geography of the area in 1066 and looking at the reasons why William chose this spot to land his army. I will then explain the background to the 1066 conflict and the reasons why William chose to invade.
We will then walk behind the castle to get an idea of what it was like for the Normans to approach Pevensey by sea.
As we continue towards Pevensey Castle we will stop at a vantage point so that we can consider what it would have been like for the Norman Invaders approaching the harbour on September 28th 1066.
Here we will discuss the events of 1066 leading up to the Norman landing before highlighting the differences between what the Normans expected in Pevensey and what they actually found.
We will then walk back to Pevensey Castle.
The Norman Castle at Pevensey was built within the walls of an existing Roman Fort. We will pass through the Roman walls to see the moated castle (price included) and there will be free time to explore the castle ruins.
Leaving the castle, I will explain why William needed to leave Pevensey and make Hastings his base. We will walk through the village of Westham, a typical East Sussex village, following the initial route that was taken by the Norman soldiers on the first leg of their journey to Hastings. We will walk to a vantage point where we can look out over the countryside and I can point out the approximate location they made camp for the first night.
We will then make our way back towards into the village for a visit to St Mary’s Church in the village of Westham which is said to date from 1080.
Please note: It may not be possible to go inside the church if there are entry restrictions or a service is taking place.
Leaving the church we will walk a public footpath which takes us back behind the castle and into the castle car park. Along the way I will explain how William managed to win the Battle of Hastings, what happened immediately after the Battle of Hastings and how William managed to secure the backing of the Ealdormen for his coronation on 25th December 1066.
Prices
price per tour (not per person)
£175 up to 3 people
£210 up to 5 people
£235 up to 7 people
Price includes entrance to Pevensey Castle –
For members of English Heritage the price will be reduced by the entrance charge
If you are a single traveller please do ask if we can offer a reduction in price as this is sometimes possible.
To book a tour please use our booking form