logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2024
25m 47s

Battle of Hastings

History Hit
About this episode

Over the previous three episodes in our special series, Gone Medieval has taken a close look at the three main contenders for the throne of England in 1066. From Harold Godwinson who sat on it, to Harold Hardrada who might have seemed the most likely to win it, and William the Conqueror, the hardened Duke of Normandy.


In this episode, Matt Lewis explores the final clash of that seismic year. Who would wear the crown of England by the end of 1066 was still an open question and there was only one place that question could be answered. This is the story of the Battle of Hastings.


This episode was mixed and produced by Rob Weinberg.


Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code MEDIEVAL - sign up here.


You can take part in our listener survey here.

Up next
Aug 22
The Battle of Bosworth
A King clinging to his right to rule. A young Tudor ready to snatch the crown and begin a new dynasty.With immersive sound design and cinematic story-telling; Matt Lewis brings to life one of the pivotal moments in English history—the Battle of Bosworth.On August 22, 1485, Richar ... Show More
1h 12m
Aug 19
Medieval Obscenity
This episode contains obscene and sexual language throughoutThe medieval world was far from prudish, it was positively bawdy. Writers, preachers, and even everyday neighbours used blunt, often hilarious language to talk about sex and the body—not just for laughs, but to make shar ... Show More
46m 26s
Aug 15
The Paston Letters with Helen Castor
Matt Lewis and Helen Castor uncover the romantic entanglements and perilous struggles of the 15th-century Paston family, whose personal correspondences reveal intimate details of love, ambition, and survival during the Wars of the Roses. Through the incredible archive of letters ... Show More
1h 5m
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2023
The Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War plunged England, France and their allies into over a century of conflict. This bleak period of history had rebellions, assassinations, open warfare and even the Black Death as the two rival dynasties went head-to-head for the French throne. Dan is joined by ... Show More
51m 9s
Aug 2024
Lawrence of Arabia
The famed British officer who fought alongside Arab guerrilla forces in WW1. Best known for his legendary exploits as an intelligence officer in the Middle East, Thomas Edward Lawrence was also an archaeologist, scholar and photographer. His life was one of adventure and espionag ... Show More
59m 29s
Apr 2024
The Battle of El-Alamein Explained
Fought in the second half of 1942, the Battles of El Alamein were a series of climactic confrontations in Egypt between British Imperial and Commonwealth forces and a combined German and Italian army. Intended as a last-ditch attempt by the British to halt Axis gains in North Afr ... Show More
41m 58s
May 2023
2. Story of England: Medieval Invaders
Great Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, bloodshed at the battle of Hastings, Bubonic Plague and Roland the celebrity flatulist. As dawn breaks, Dan walks the beach at Pevensey where William the Conqueror and his Norman Invaders landed in 1066, but not before getting a quick lesson from Medie ... Show More
59m 51s
Oct 2022
Battle of El Alamein Explained
Fought in the second half of 1942, the Battles of El Alamein were a series of climactic confrontations in Egypt between British Imperial and Commonwealth forces, and a combined German and Italian army. Intended as a last-ditch attempts by the British to halt German gains in North ... Show More
44m 45s
Jun 2022
HS2: Digging up the 'Dark Ages'
An extraordinary discovery has been unearthed by archaeologists working alongside the HS2 rail project. The find, made at an undisclosed location near Wendover in the Chilterns, consists of a 5th-6th century burial site that has been described as one of the most important post-Ro ... Show More
1h 5m
Feb 2024
The Real King Arthur
If King Arthur never existed, why does he loom so large in England's history? Dan traces the real-life figures who could have been the legendary King Arthur- the medieval king who pulled the sword from the stone and led the English against the Anglo-Saxons who arrived in England ... Show More
1h 18m
Oct 2022
243. Trafalgar: A World at War (Part 1)
Was the Battle of Trafalgar the most decisive battle of the 19th century? Join Tom and Dominic as they embark on a three part series discussing this incredible conflict between the British Royal Navy and combined fleets of the French and Spanish navies, focusing in this episode o ... Show More
51m 21s
May 2023
Dan Snow's Story of England COMING SOON
Tales of feuding monarchs, bloody battles, plagues, explorers and scandals. In a special mini-series dropping from the 22nd May 2023 in this feed, Dan hits the road for a 5-day road trip to bring listeners his favourite parts of England's epic history. He dashes through one milli ... Show More
1m 32s