The visitors first gathered together in that part of the field , known as Senlac, sometimes corrupted into Sanguelac, or Lake of Blood , where the central attack was made, still known by the name of Battle Lake.
They then moved until they were nearly opposite the building which MR. GORDON HILLS has shown to be the dormitory of the monks, but which is more familiar to most of us as the Refectory,and which HORACE WALPOLE mistook for the Church itself ; though its position , pointing north and south, should have at once negatived such an idea . To the north -east, (i.e., as we were standing, a little to the right and farther back ) is situated the high altar, where Harold 's standard was placed, and which fixes with exactness the position of the centre of the English army, the ridge on which the abbey stands, extending for about 1100 yards on either side. Harold's best troops were stationed near that roofless dormitory, and the spectators were then on ground a little in advance of William 's central array : between them and the dormitory were small lakes, now dammed up to serve the purpose of fishponds, but which would otherwise be the sources of a stream of running water, following a natural course and offering a considerable obstacle to the onset of William .
The artificial pond before us brought vividly before our minds the fosse which, says WACE, the English made at early morn right across the field. The position was further strengthened by " shield walls," of which there are of course now no traces , since though almost impregnable to the -
