The 31st annual Battle Conference was held at its customary venue, Pyke House in Battle, from 24 to 28 July 2008. All the papers read during the conference are printed here. They include the Allen Brown Memorial Lecture, honouring the conference's founder, which was delivered on the first evening by Professor Judith Green of the University of Edinburgh, once an undergraduate pupil of Allen's. The lecture is supported by the R. Allen Brown Memorial Trust, a registered charity. The opening reception and the lecture were held at Battle abbey by kind permission of the headmaster of Battle Abbey School. The Trust welcomed a group of local historians and others from Battle and district to the event. Further information about the Battle Conference can be seen at www.battleconference.com.

The outing on Saturday 26 July ventured into West Sussex on a delightfully sunny day, taking in the churches at Lyminster, Burpham, and Poling, and lunching at the George & Dragon, Burpham, adjacent to one of King Alfred's burhs. The landlord and his staff provided excellent hospitality, all the more impressive given that they were also serving a large wedding party. The incumbents, churchwardens, and church helpers at all three churches are warmly thanked for their obliging help. Carol Davidson Cragoe and Chris Lewis led the tour. Back at Pyke House there were displays of new books by Boydell & Brewer, Oxford University Press, and Shaun Tyas, all of whom are thanked for adding much to the interest of the conference.