Background

Background to the ConquestFifty years of intrigue, deception and treachery preceded William of Normandy's invasion of England. By Dr Mike Ibeji.

English and Norman SocietyThe Normans and the Anglo Saxons came from the same basic 'stock', but how different were they really on the eve of the conquest? By Dr Mike Ibeji.

1066

1066Three kings, a rash of hotly contested battles and an invasion that changed the British Isles forever. Small wonder it is considered a year to remember. By Dr Mike Ibeji.

Key Events of the ConquestA chronology and analysis of the year that brought England under the control of a Norman elite. By Dr Mike Ibeji.

• Key Players in the Norman Conquest - A brief guide to the contenders for the English throne in 1066.

Battle of Hastings

The Battle of Hastings GameDiscover the different tactics available to William of Normandy and Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings - and try putting them into practice.

The Bayeux Tapestry: Unpicking the PastControversy and myth are woven into this depiction of the events leading up to the Norman conquest. By Dave MacLeod.

The Conquest

The Conquest and its AftermathAs the Normans settled England, they faced treachery, collusion and foreign threats. Yet William was still able to complete the monumental Domesday Book. By Dr Mike Ibeji.

War and Technology GalleryExplore the history of warfare and find out how the Norman cavalry contributed at the Battle of Hastings. By Matthew Bennett.

• The Threat of Invasion 1066-1789: An Overview by Dr Niall Barr
• What Did the Normans Do for Us? by Professor John Hudson

The Domesday Book

The Domesday BookThis huge survey is England's earliest public record and a legal document that is still valid today.

Inside DomesdayWritings from a wide variety of sources shed light on the meaning and importance of William's great survey.

Art and Architecture

Normans Buildings GalleryNorman architecture has left a rich built heritage on both sides of the English Channel. Explore nine historic sites.

The Cathedrals of BritainThe building of monumental churches began in the 11th century and continues to the present day.

• Churches of Britain Gallery - An insight into some historic places of worship
• A History of British Architecture by Adrian Tinniswood
• Ivory Carvings in England from Before the Norman Conquest by Dr Paul Williamson