The Battle Conference on Anglo-Norman Studies is an annual conference devoted to English and Norman medieval history and culture. It focuses primarily, but not exclusively, on the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Its purpose, as formulated by its founder R. Allen Brown in 1978, is 'to discuss and forward knowledge on all aspects of Anglo-Norman history, with particular reference to the Anglo-Norman realm, but also to be concerned with the Old English and Scandinavian contribution to the Anglo-Norman achievement in Italy, Sicily, Spain and the Crusades'.

The Proceedings of the Conference, now entitled Anglo-Norman Studies, have been published annually since 1978. All papers delivered to the Conference are given at the invitation of the Conference director and editor of Anglo-Norman Studies, at present David Bates.

With the conference’s traditional venue at Pyke House (on the field of the Battle of Hastings) no longer available, the conference has become peripatetic. Having been held in Norwich in 2010, it will be held in 2011 in another great centre of interest for all Anglo-Norman historians, namely York, where it will be hosted by the Centre of Medieval Studies of the University of York. As ever, it seeks to include established and younger scholars working on every aspect of the subject area. By having no more than four c.50 minute papers a day, the Conference ensures that there is plenty of time for discussion, both fairly formal and very informal.

Battle Abbey, entrance

The Centre for Medieval Studies is marvellously situated in the King’s Manor, a medieval building five minutes’ walk from York Minster. It will supply a magnificent venue. There is, however, one major difference from all previous conferences in that we are going to follow normal York custom and practice and ask all members of the conference to find their own accommodation. Given that York is an extremely busy tourist centre, everyone is advised to book very early. Details of accommodation can be found at http://www.visityork.org/accommodation. Accommodation can also be booked within the University of York, but there will be no conference block booking. There will also be a registration fee for attending the conference, but this will be much lower than usual. Details will be posted on the web-site soon.

In 1987 (the Conference's tenth year and the 900th anniversary of the death of William the Bastard/Conqueror) the Conference met in Caen, and it has now established a tradition of travelling in every fifth year - in 1992 to Palermo, in 1997 to Dublin, in 2002 to Glasgow, and in 2007 to Gregynog, Montgomeryshire'. The 2012 conference will be held in Bayeux.

The R Allen Brown Trust has some limited funds and likes to use them to assist postgraduates to meet costs of attending the conference. Details of how to apply for bursaries will be posted soon.

This year, as always, the conference meets over the last weekend in July. The Allen Brown Memorial Lecture, given this year by Professor Paul Hyams, will take place on the Thursday evening and will be followed by a reception. Also, as always, the conference will finish at lunch-time on Monday. There will be visits to sites in and around York. These are likely to be more extensive than usual and extremely interesting.

Preliminary details of the conference will be circulated very soon. To be put on the mailing list or for further information about the conference please contact the director, David Bates, at David.Bates@uea.ac.uk. Please note that there is no 'call for papers' for the Battle Conference and that all papers are read at the director's invitation. Suggestions for suitable speakers are, however, welcome at any time. For further information about any other aspect of the conference please contact David Bates, at David.Bates@uea.ac.uk.