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, York in 2011, and Bayeux in 2012, this year it will be held in Cambridge at Lucy Cavendish College from Friday 26 July to Tuesday 30 July. As in previous years, we have received generous help from our hosts, Lucy Cavendish College and the Faculty of History of the University of Cambridge. As ever, the Conference seeks to encourage participation by younger scholars and for this reason five bursaries for postgraduates will be available this year. 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

Formal registration for the Conference will be done through Lucy Cavendish College. For details of these arrangements see the programme and registration forms accessible through this web-site. The closing date for non-residential registration has been extended to 28 June 2013. All queries about the conference should be addressed to the Director David Bates

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 continued this tradition by being held in Bayeux.

This year’s Allen Brown Memorial Lecture will be given by Professor Elisabeth van Houts and will be followed by a Reception hosted by the Faculty of History of the University of Cambridge. The conference will finish at lunch-time on the Tuesday. As always, there will be visits to places of interest, including an exhibition of manuscripts in the Wren Library of Trinity College, an excursion to Isleham, the Fens, and Ely, and a walking tour of early medieval Cambridge.

Details of the programme are now available. To be put on the mailing list or for further information about the conference please contact the director, David Bates. 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.

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.