King Harold’s forced march to Battle of Hastings ‘implausible’

Re-enactors in Battle, near Hastings, recreate the clash between King Harold and William the Conqueror on the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings (PA) - (PA Archive)

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

It has long been taught that after King Harold’s victory at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire, there was a forced march south for his army to face the Norman invasion.