Battle of Hastings reenactment

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Battlefield photo

One of Duke William's knights attacks King Harold's shield wall - 14 October 2006.

The Battle of Hastings reenactment is a yearly event at Battle Abbey in Battle, East Sussex, UK, recreating the Battle of Hastings. It takes place every year on the weekend nearest the 14th October on the site of the historical battle, although is often arranged across the hill rather than up it, to take account of the smaller number of participants and the need for spectators.

The event is run by English Heritage, which owns the site, and attended by several thousand people yearly. For many years it was an event for amateur groups of reenactors, but more recently has involved scenes by professional actors.

Every five or six years since 1984 it has been the site of Major re-enactments - 1984, 1990, 1995 and 2000. At the event in 2000 Hastings 2000, about 1000 re-enactors on foot, 100 cavalry and between 50 and 100 archers from 16 different countries took part.

The 2006 event Hastings 2006 was, for a while, referred to as TNBO, "The Next Big One." The phrase was coined in 2001 or 2002 by an Australian re-enactor following the event in 2000 when questions began being asked about when 'The Next Big One' would be held.

The 2006 event saw a much larger attendance than in 2000. A total of 3,400 re-enactors registered, and about 2,000 people took part on each of the two days, watched by a total crowd of about 25,000 paying public. As such, it is believed to have been the largest pre-gunpowder re-enactment ever held anywhere.