New ResearchArchaeologists Say Theyve Located Harold IIs Lost Manor HouseA latrine found in Bosham, England, has helped identify the location of the kings long-lost residence, offering new insights into medieval life before the Norman ConquestElla JeffriesStaff ContributorFebruary 4, 2025 2:22 p.m. The Bayeux Tapestry, an 11th-century masterpiece of medieval embroidery, famously narrates the events leading up to and including the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Public domain via Wikimedia CommonsArchaeologists say theyve finally uncovered the site of the English king Harold IIs long-lost residence, thanks to an unlikely clue: a centuries-old toilet.The manor houses location had been a mystery for years. Now, in a study published inThe Antiquaries Journal, researchers argue that it stood on a site in the village of Bosham, England, thats now home to a private residence. During their studies, they also reanalyzed a latrine that had been discovered at the site in 2006.The latrines presence confirmed to us that this house sits on the site of an elite residence predating the Norman Conquest, says co-author Duncan Wright, an archaeologist at Newcastle University, in a statement. Looking at this vital clue, alongside all our other evidence, it is beyond all reasonable doubt that we have here the location of [Harolds] private power center.Harolds residence is depicted twice in an artwork called the Bayeux Tapestry, a famous 11th-century masterpiece of medieval embroidery that narrates the events surrounding theNorman Conquest of England. The piece shows Harold feasting at his residence before he sets sail for Normandy and again when he returns home.The researchers analyzed the site in Bosham by conducting geophysical surveys, studying historical maps and records, examining existing structures and revisiting discoveries from the 2006 excavation. These techniques revealed the presence of two previously unidentified medieval structures. The researchers also found that the residence was once connected to the nearby Holy Trinity Church, which still stands today.But their breakthrough came from the latrine, which had been built within a larger timber building. Such features, which began appearing in high-status homes around the 10th century, were rare and signified a royal or aristocratic residence.That is absolutely key in identifying a high-status building, Wright tells BBC Radio Sussex, per BBC News Bob Dale. Were as sure as we can be that this is the site of King Harolds residence. You find latrines in other places, but these ones built into grand timber buildings are very much the top end of society.Harold took the throne in January 1066, but he ruled for only nine months. He was killed at the Battle of Hastings on October 14, bringing an end to his conflict with William, Duke of Normandy. By the end of the day, thousands lay dead on the battlefield, and the victorious William was one step nearer to seizing the throne, as English Heritage writes.The rise of Norman power reshaped not just the political structure of England, but also the physical landscape. The remnants of aristocratic centers like Harolds residence offer a rare glimpse into a world that was rapidly disappearing.The Norman Conquest saw a new ruling class supplant an English aristocracy that has left little in the way of physical remains, which makes the discovery at Bosham hugely significant, says co-author Oliver Creighton, an archaeologist at the University of Exeter, in the statement.The Bosham discovery is part of a larger project called Where Power Lies, which examines the origins and development of early aristocratic power centers in medieval England. The researchers have also identified other lordly centers across England, illuminating the landscapes that shaped the elite.Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Archaeology, Art, Art History, British History, England, History, Kings, Medieval Ages, Mysteries, New Research, Warfare