Battle Abbey

The request was successful.

Dear The English Heritage Trust,

1/Could I ask if paved the area outside of Battle Abbey, Gatehouse towards Park Lane is the responsibility of ESCC or do English Heritage maintain the area.

2/ Do English Heritage give any permission for events which take place outside the Gatehouse throughout the year. For instance I understand an event is organised on Boxing Day each year outside the gatehouse on this paved area of footpath.

Yours faithfully,

P A GADD

Dear Mr Gadd,

Thank you for your email.

I have passed your enquiries to the English Heritage Events team and they will be in touch in due course.

Kind regards,

Ann Bryan
Information Rights Assistant

Monday – Thursday 9.00 to 2.30

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Williams, Natasha, The English Heritage Trust

1 Attachment

Dear P A Gadd,

 

Thank you for getting in touch with us. I have noted the two questions you
asked and have answered them in red below.

 

1/Could I ask if paved  the area outside of  Battle Abbey, Gatehouse
towards Park Lane is the responsibility of ESCC or do English Heritage
maintain the area.

The area outside the front of the Gatehouse at Battle Abbey is within the
guardianship of English Heritage Trust, however it is maintained as part
of the adopted highway by East Sussex Highways.

 

    2/  Do English Heritage give any permission for events which take
place outside the Gatehouse throughout the year. For instance I understand
an event is organised on Boxing Day each year outside the gatehouse on
this paved area of footpath.

English Heritage does not give permission for any external events to take
place on this paved area, unless there is an exceptional circumstance, in
which case this needs to be discussed with the site management team. The
Abbey Green is also within the guardianship of English Heritage and this
is licensed out to Battle Town Council. Any events taking place on the
Green need to have permission from the Council, and with agreement from
English Heritage. Any events taking place on Boxing Day have not been
granted official permission.

 

If you have any other queries regarding this please don't hesitate to get
in touch.

 

Kind regards,

Natasha Williams

 

Natasha Williams  |  Head of Historic Properties  |  Sussex

Battle Abbey

Battle

East Sussex, TN33 0AD

 

www.english-heritage.org.uk

www.facebook.com/englishheritage

www.twitter.com/EnglishHeritage

 

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English Heritage cares for over 400 historic monuments, buildings
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castles, from Roman forts on the edges of empire to cold war bunkers.
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Dear The English Heritage Trust,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of The English Heritage Trust's handling of my FOI request 'Battle Abbey'.

Your answer confirmed that NO request had been received or permission granted for use of Abbey Gardens @Battle Abbey

Battle Town Council have now had a meeting and it is minuted from17/8/2021 where they suggest they did have English Heritage Permission ? See below from meeting:
http://www.battletowncouncil.gov.uk/comm...

Battle Town Council Minutes of meeting 17/8/2021

Item 15. Boxing Day Meet
An email of concern at the safety implications had been circulated to Members and noted. The Clerk reported that previous Meets had been agreed with English Heritage on the understanding that insurance and risk assessments had been arranged and there was no illegal activity. Confirmation of a Meet this year had been sought but not received. Members agreed that no discussion should take place until a request to use the Abbey Green had been received.
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Could I further ask if your twitter response on 15 Dec 2017 that EH do not allow any hunting, including trail hunting on any of their sites still stands.

Could you therefore please confirm if the information provided by English Heritage in the original FOI request is true or have someone made a mistake.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/b...

Yours faithfully,

P A GADD

Gibbons, Frances,

1 Attachment

Dear PA Gadd,

 

Thank you for your email dated 7 September. I note from our records that
your previous query did not fall under the Freedom of Information Act and
so was processed outside of the legislation by colleagues within English
Heritage. A formal Internal Review under the Freedom of Information
legislation is therefore not applicable. I have however, passed your email
dated 7 September on to colleagues within English Heritage who will be
able to look into your query and will respond in due course.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Frances Gibbons

 

Senior Information Rights Officer

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Williams, Natasha, The English Heritage Trust

1 Attachment

Dear P A Gadd,

 

Your request for information has been passed to me, I believe I responded
to you last year so I hope I’m able to clarify the matter for you.

 

You initially asked about the paved area of footpath outside of the Abbey
Gatehouse however I believe you are now asking about the Abbey Green which
sits in the centre of Battle on which various events do take place
throughout the year. The area known as the Abbey Green sits within the
guardianship of English Heritage Trust but is leased out to Battle Town
Council with whom approval for events taking place sits with. I have a
good relationship with the Council so also help with the approval process
if it sits outside of the lease agreement.

 

I am aware of the Boxing Day meet which takes place on the Abbey Green and
have discussed it with the Council previously however I have not seen any
official request by the group to use the space. As the council meeting
note’s state, when permission is asked officially then a discussion will
take place and I have recently had a conversation with the Town Clerk
about this matter. I have not seen any risk assessments from the group or
insurance but these are required by any group holding external events
outside in a public area.  

 

English Heritage does not allow hunting, including trail hunting on our
land and no permission has ever been granted for either of these to take
place on the Battle site.

 

If you have any further questions please get in touch.

 

Kind regards,

Natasha Williams

 

 

Natasha Williams  |  Head of Historic Properties  |  Sussex

 

English Heritage

Battle Abbey

Battle

East Sussex, TN33 0AD

 

[1]www.english-heritage.org.uk

[2]www.facebook.com/englishheritage

[3]www.twitter.com/EnglishHeritage

 

 

[4]English Heritage Logo

English Heritage cares for over 400 historic monuments, buildings
and places - from world famous prehistoric sites to grand medieval
castles, from Roman forts on the edges of empire to cold war bunkers.
Through these we bring the story of England to life for over 10 million
visitors each year.

The English Heritage Trust is a registered charity, no. 1140351, and a
limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England. Our registered
office is The Engine House, Fire Fly Avenue, Swindon SN2 2EH.

This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal
views which are not the views of English Heritage unless specifically
stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it from your
system and notify the sender immediately. Do not use, copy  or disclose
the information in any way nor act in reliance on it. Any information sent
to English Heritage may become publicly available..

show quoted sections

Dear Williams, Natasha,

Appreciate your reply.

Just for clarification and information.
Could I you refer to Battle Town Council Meeting & Minutes
http://www.battletowncouncil.gov.uk/comm...

FULL COUNCIL MEETINGS
15/1/2019: Item 9
9. Boxing Day meet on Abbey Green
Members noted the recent report in the Observer but highlighted the inaccuracies it contained;
particularly in relation to the contact with the Town Council and the permissions received for use of
the Abbey Green. It was emphasised that this ‘meet’ attracted many to the town and was considered
a traditional event. Council agreed that organisers should be reminded that permission should be
sought for use of the Abbey Green and that a formal road closure ought to be applied for from RDC,
to ensure safety. The Clerk advised that English Heritage will be opening the Abbey on Boxing Day
and this could impact on this event.

17 /12 2019 : Item 7
7. Correspondence and communications received post agenda publication
 A request from the East Sussex Hunt to hold their traditional meet on the Abbey Green, prior to
the Trail Hunt, was discussed. It was highlighted that there would be no obstruction to the
Abbey or car park. Subject to satisfactory Risk Assessments and insurances, this was agreed

21/1/2020
Item 4 Clerk Report
 Several emails and messages had been received in appreciation of allowing the Boxing Day hunt
meet on the Abbey Green. Sussex Police had been made aware of contentious literature being
circulated and there had been a presence to ensure the event was peaceful.

It does appear that this event has been staged without scrutiny. Both Battle Town Council and English Heritage have responsibilities under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957 and also HSWA 1974 to ensure the safety of all the public .. not just people attending the event.

Also could I politely suggest you visit view this video relating to incidents at this event. I only wish to make English Heritage aware of what you are allowing to happen.
https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/18125678...

Is this something English Heritage want to agree to?

Also, when I requested the Risk Assessments & Information relating to this event. Battle Town Council confirmed they had none ..but had seen them? I think would be a requirement of any landlord to mitigate your liability in event of incident.

Yours sincerely,

P A GADD

Williams, Natasha, The English Heritage Trust

Dear P A Gadd,

Thank you for sending through link to The Argus website. I have not been on site when the meet has happened before so have only had accounts from my staff and the police as to what it has been like, the video alludes to something different from that. 2019 was the first year that the site had opened on Boxing Day, before that we had not had a presence on the day.

As the council state, they have requested that should the group want to organise something this year they must ask for official permission, at which point it will be discussed and I will be consulted. Obviously the safety of everyone involved as well as the general public will be at the forefront of the discussion. The Council should make sure to retain risk assessments and insurance details for any events taking place on the Abbey Green so I will make sure that happens going forwards. As well as ensuring there is additional police support and measures put in place should the event be taking place this year.

Kind regards,
Natasha

Natasha Williams | Head of Historic Properties | Sussex

English Heritage
Battle Abbey
Battle
East Sussex, TN33 0AD

www.english-heritage.org.uk
www.facebook.com/englishheritage
www.twitter.com/EnglishHeritage

English Heritage cares for over 400 historic monuments, buildings and sites - from world famous prehistoric sites to grand medieval castles, from Roman forts on the edges of empire to cold war bunkers. Through these we bring the story of England to life for over 10 million visitors each year.

The English Heritage Trust is a registered charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England. Our registered office is The Engine House, Fire Fly Avenue, Swindon SN2 2EH.

This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal views which are not the views of English Heritage unless specifically stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system and notify the sender immediately. Do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in reliance on it. Any information sent to English Heritage may become publicly available.

show quoted sections