Foot soldiers and horsemen will march through Waltham Abbey next week as “King Harold” makes a return to the town.

As part of the 950th anniversary of the battle of Hastings, English Heritage is recreating the hurried march made by the monarch and his close followers after the battle of Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire on September 25.

News had reached Harold that William of Normandy had landed in Sussex and intended to take the throne, so he rushed to try to stop him.

The organisers of the 1066 March event said: “On his way south, King Harold stopped off at Waltham in order to pray for victory at the miraculous Holy Cross of Waltham in his Minster Church at Waltham Abbey, which he had founded and continued to endow.

“He entered the church, knelt at the Holy Cross and prayed.

“As he did so legend has it that the figure on the crucifix bowed its head.

“This was taken as a bad omen for the coming battle, which sadly proved right.”

The march will enter Waltham Abbey before 5pm next Thursday (October 6), coming from the Fishers Green car park along the Crooked Mile and then entering the Abbey Gardens.

Onlookers and the Rector of Waltham Abbey, the Reverend Peter Smith, will greet the marchers at the Abbey Gateway.

A ceremony will be held, including an actor dressed as King Harold praying at the black Holy Cross.

Anyone with medieval costume is encouraged to wear it to “add to the atmosphere of the occasion”.