Senlac Hill

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Senlac Hill (also known as Senlac Ridge), was the ridge on which King Harold II deployed his army for the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066. The Normans made a repeated charges up the hill eventually dislodging the Saxons and breaking their ranks. It was originally known in English as Santlache ("Sandy Stream"), which the Normans punned into Sanguelac ("Blood Lake") which was then shortened to Senlac: thus Senlac Hill is the commonly held name for the high ground defended by the English army. Senlac Hill was c. 275 feet above sea level, before the top of the ridge was levelled off to create Battle Abbey.