Rare color film from 1966 showing the first-ever re-enactment of the Battle of Hastings has been acquired by the charity English Heritage. Filmed by local electronics manufacturer Alan Wootton and recently uncovered by his son Cliff, the 12-minute footage captures a humorous, chaotic spectacle staged to mark the 900th anniversary of the famous 1066 clash on its original battlefield in East Sussex.
The inaugural event involved around 500 students from Kent and Sussex universities who engaged in a surprisingly intense battle using painted wooden swords and hardboard axes. Historical accuracy was minimal: the simulated Norman army was delayed by 20 minutes due to traffic on the A27, Queen Matilda was played by Miss World, and the French foreign minister attended as a spectator. Participant Peter Sampson recalled that genuine university rivalries led to real physical fighting, though combatants later reconciled over shared beer after the battle.
English Heritage site manager James Witcombe praised the film as a captivating record of enthusiastic amateurs having fun, contrasting it with today's highly professionalized annual events. Modern re-enactments feature about 1,000 participants focused on strict historical authenticity and experimental archaeology. As English Heritage prepares for this year's event on October 10 and 11, the charity has extended an invitation to anyone who took part in the original 1966 clash to return.