200-mile march to Battle of Hastings 'never happened'

A NEAR 200-mile forced march to the Battle of Hastings in 1066 did not happen, research suggests, with troops largely travelling by ship.

- BY SAM RUSSELL

It has long been taught that after King Harold’s victory at the Battle of Stamford Bridge there was a forced march from East Yorkshire to face the Norman invasion.

But University of East Anglia professor of medieval history and literature Tom Licence blames a Victorian misunderstanding.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, one of the earliest and most complete written records of English history, seems to imply Harold had dismissed his fleet, meaning he had to rush his troops south on foot.