Battle, par. and market town with ry. sta., E. Sussex, 6 miles NW. of Hastings and 56 miles SE. of London, 8253 ac., pop. 3319; P.O., T.O., 2 Banks. Market-day, Thursday. Has extensive gunpowder manufactories. The battle of Hastings, won by William the Conqueror in 1066, was fought on the heath between Battle and Hastings; the abbey founded by him has disappeared, but there are the interesting ruins of another subsequently erected on the same spot. In vicinity is Battle Abbey, seat of the Duke of Cleveland.

(John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887))