1066 – Land, Sea and Language: Norman Conquest double bill
The Battle of Hastings, by Land and Sea 5pm to 6pm
The battle of Hastings, 1066, is the most famous battle in English history. It saw the death of a king and the birth of a new age. Yet there was far more to Harold’s defence of England than standing on a hill, for his strategy involved ambitious operations by land and sea. In this talk, Professor Licence – author of Harold, Warrior King – shines a light on how events unfolded when two brilliant commanders tried to outwit each other at every turn. What were Harold’s secret plans? What did William know that Harold did not? And what went wrong for one of England’s most experienced generals? This is 1066 brought to life by a leading expert.
How 1066 Changed Our Language 4pm to 5pm
English is a rich and diverse language–an amalgamation of many tongues and cultures–but perhaps the biggest influence upon its development was the Norman Conquest, which saw the introduction of over 10,000 new words, many of which we still use today.
In this session, local writer Sam Davey will introduce Reconquest, a new anthology of local writing which explores and celebrates the impact of the events of 1066 upon the English language. Several contributors to the anthology will read from their work in what promises to be a fascinating session for all lovers of language.
Supported by the Hastings Norman Heritage Fund, this will be the first public performance of work from the book, which will be officially launched during Hastings Week in October 2026.
Professor Tom Licence is a historian specialising in the period 950–1200. He has recently published a claim that the English army did not march, but in fact sailed from the Battle of Stamford Bridge to the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
In 2020, his biography of Edward the Confessor was published by Yale University Press. His recent biography of Harold Godwinson is entitled Harold: Warrior King.
Tom is Professor of Medieval History and Literature at the University of East Anglia and a former director of the Centre of East Anglian Studies. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, the Society of Antiquaries and the Higher Education Academy.
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Sam Davey is a prize-winning short story writer and the author of the novels Angels of Islington, The Chosen Queen and its sequel The Sisters and the Sword; the latter is set to be published in August 2026. Sam has a passion for the English language and has always loved the Arthurian stories, having first encountered the retellings as a young girl. She lives on the southeast coast of England with her husband.
