Neil Clephane-Cameron

Last updated
Neil Clephane-Cameron
NeilClephaneCameron.jpg
BornNeil Clephane Cameron
1960-10-04
OccupationHistorian, writer, actor
NationalityBritish
Notable works
  • 1066 and the Battle of Hastings: Preludes, Events and Postscripts
Children

Neil Clephane-Cameron (born Neil Clephane Cameron, 4 October 1960) is a historian, writer and actor from Battle, East Sussex. Much of his work is centred on research into the events of 1066, in particular the Battle of Hastings. He has appeared as a consultant historian in a number of BBC documentaries, and cowrote the nonfiction book The 1066 Malfosse Walk with Joanne Lawrence in 2000. Other periods of particular interest to him are the English Civil War and World War I. Clephane-Cameron has also conducted guided tours, for individuals and groups such as The Battlefields Trust, of battlefields in Britain and Europe including Hastings, 1066; Lewes, 1264; Waterloo, 1815; 1st Ypres, 1914; The Somme, 1916.

Contents

Battle Abbey protests

In the late 1990s, Clephane-Cameron initiated and led a successful national protest against alterations proposed by English Heritage to Battle Abbey to include a Tea Rooms and service road on a portion of the historic battlefield.

The Malfosse Walk

In 2000, Clephane-Cameron wrote The 1066 Malfosse Walk, which talks about the closing events of the Battle of Hastings in which the fleeing Saxons briefly stood against a pursuing group of Norman knights and nearly succeeded in killing Duke William. [1] The publication marked the Golden Jubilee of the Battle & District Historical Society, of which he has been the Honorary Secretary since 1995.

1066 and the Battle of Hastings

In 2015, Clephane-Cameron joined with Keith Foord to publish a collection of essays on the preludes, events, and postscripts of the Battle of Hastings. The book was subtitled "Essays from the Battlefield". [2]

Consultant historian

Clephane-Cameron has acted as a consultant historian for the BBC and independent production companies. Television programmes include Dan Snow's Norman Walks, which looked at the spread of the Normans after the events of 1066, and for radio a variety of documentaries including the history of Winchelsea as well a various news items.

Film work

Clephane-Cameron appeared in the BBC production of Henry V released in 2012 as part of their cycle of Shakespeare films.[ citation needed ] He can be seen in the role of an English archer. [3]

Related Research Articles

Hastings Town and Borough in England

Hastings is a seaside town and borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England, 24 mi (39 km) east to the county town of Lewes and 53 mi (85 km) south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place 8 mi (13 km) to the north-west at Senlac Hill in 1066. It later became one of the medieval Cinque Ports. In the 19th century, it was a popular seaside resort, as the railway allowed tourists and visitors to reach the town. Today, Hastings is a fishing port with a beach-based fishing fleet. It had an estimated population of 92,855 in 2018.

Harold Godwinson 11th-century Anglo-Saxon King of England

Harold Godwinson, often called Harold II, was the last crowned Anglo-Saxon king of England. Harold reigned from 6 January 1066 until his death at the Battle of Hastings, fighting the Norman invaders led by William the Conqueror during the Norman conquest of England. His death marked the end of Anglo-Saxon rule over England.

Battle of Hastings Battle between English and Normans on 14 October 1066

The Battle of Hastings was fought on 14 October 1066 between the Norman-French army of William, the Duke of Normandy, and an English army under the Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson, beginning the Norman conquest of England. It took place approximately 7 miles northwest of Hastings, close to the present-day town of Battle, East Sussex, and was a decisive Norman victory.

Battle of Stamford Bridge 1066 battle near York between Harald Hardrada and King Harold II of England

The Battle of Stamford Bridge took place at the village of Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire, in England on 25 September 1066, between an English army under King Harold Godwinson and an invading Norwegian force led by King Harald Hardrada and the English king's brother Tostig Godwinson. After a bloody battle, both Hardrada and Tostig along with most of the Norwegians were killed. Although Harold Godwinson repelled the Norwegian invaders, his army was defeated by the Normans at Hastings less than three weeks later. The battle has traditionally been presented as symbolising the end of the Viking Age, although major Scandinavian campaigns in Britain and Ireland occurred in the following decades, such as those of King Sweyn Estrithson of Denmark in 1069–1070 and King Magnus Barefoot of Norway in 1098 and 1102–1103.

East Sussex County of England

East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent to the north and east, West Sussex to the west, and Surrey to the north-west, as well as the English Channel to the south.

Norman conquest of England 11th-century invasion and conquest of England by Normans

The Norman conquest of England was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army of Norman, Breton, Flemish, and French soldiers led by the Duke of Normandy, later styled William the Conqueror.

Battle Abbey Benedictine abbey in Battle, East Sussex, England

Battle Abbey is a partially ruined Benedictine abbey in Battle, East Sussex, England. The abbey was built on the site of the Battle of Hastings and dedicated to St Martin of Tours.

Battle of Fulford 1066 battle near York between Harald Hardrada and two English earls

The Battle of Fulford was fought on the outskirts of the village of Fulford near York in England, on 20 September 1066, when King Harald III of Norway, also known as Harald Hardrada, and Tostig Godwinson, his English ally, fought and defeated the Northern Earls Edwin and Morcar.

David Bates is a historian of Britain and France during the period from the tenth to the thirteenth centuries. He has written many books and articles during his career, including Normandy before 1066 (1982), Regesta Regum Anglo-Normannorum: The Acta of William I, 1066–1087 (1998), The Normans and Empire (2013), and William the Conqueror (2016).

<i>Battlefield Britain</i> television series

Battlefield Britain is a 2004 BBC television documentary series about famous battles in the history of Great Britain. From Boudicca's destructive rebellion against the Romans to the incredible feats of The Few who saw off the Luftwaffe, these battles all had wide-reaching consequences and implications for the future of the British isles.

Battle of Hastings reenactment battle reenactment

The Battle of Hastings reenactment is a yearly reenactment of the Battle of Hastings, held at Battle Abbey in Battle, East Sussex, UK, and drawing participants from around the world. It takes place every year on the weekend nearest 14 October on the site of the historical battle, although is often arranged across the hill rather than up it, to take account of the smaller number of participants and the need for spectators.

"The Vikings" is a British-based society of re-enactors, dedicated to the study and re-enactment of the culture of the Viking Age (790–1066) and the display of authentic Dark Ages living history and combat.

Edith the Fair 11th-century Queen consort of England

Edith the Fair, also known as Edith Swanneck, was the first wife of King Harold Godwinson. "Swanneck" comes from the folk etymology which made her in Old English as swann hnecca, "swan neck", which was actually most likely a corrupted form of swann hnesce, "Gentle Swan". She is sometimes confused with Ealdgyth, daughter of Earl Ælfgar of Mercia, who was queen during Harold's reign.

Senlac Hill is the generally accepted location where Harold Godwinson deployed his army for the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066. It is located near what is now the town of Battle, East Sussex. The name Senlac was popularised by the Victorian historian E.A. Freeman based solely on a description of the battle by the Anglo-Norman chronicler Orderic Vitalis. Freeman went on to suggest that the Normans nicknamed the area Blood lake as a pun on the English Sand lake.

Hastings Castle Grade I listed ruins in the United Kingdom

Hastings Castle is a keep and bailey castle ruin situated in the town of Hastings, East Sussex.

War Walks is a BBC documentary series presented by historian, Professor Richard Holmes. The series was about several famous European battles. It included descriptions of the battles, the events leading up to them and the events resulting from them.

1066: The Battle for Middle Earth is a two-part British television documentary series. In this blend of historical drama and original source material, Channel 4 re-imagines the story of this decisive year of the Norman conquest of England, not from the saddles of kings and conquerors, but through the eyes of ordinary people caught up in its events. The documentary was narrated by actor Sir Ian Holm.

James Clephane-Cameron

James Edward Clephane-Cameron is a poet from East Sussex, UK. He is the son of the historian Neil Clephane-Cameron. Beyond his work as a writer he has campaigned for the restoration and continued use of historic computing.

Edith Walks is a 2017 documentary film directed by Andrew Kötting which imagines a journey by Edith the Fair, wife of English king Harold Godwinson, from Waltham Abbey where he is buried to near the site of the Battle of Hastings and the invasion of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. It includes contributions from the writers Alan Moore and Iain Sinclair, the torch singer Claudia Barton, and the musician Jem Finer.

Clephane-Cameron is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:

References

  1. Clephane-Cameron, Neil (2000). The 1066 Malfosse Walk, Battle and District Historical Society. ISBN   1-903099-00-5
  2. Clephane-Cameron, Neil (2015). 1066 and the Battle of Hastings: Preludes, Events & Postscripts: Essays from the Battlefield, Battle and District Historical Society. ISBN   978-1903099025
  3. "BBC - Cast confirmed for BBC Two's cycle of Shakespeare films - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk.