Dives

Then, when he'd recovered enough to speak, he called a council of war.

This is Dives-sur-Mer on the mouth of the River Dives in Normandy, and here, 950 years ago, William started to build an immense fleet of 700 warships and transports in order to invade England.

It was warfare on an industrial scale.

They'd have chopped down around 60,000 trees and employed about 8,000 men.

But more than that, the support structure to raise the cash and feed and water the workers would have involved everyone in Normandy.

When William awoke from his rage, no one was left untouched.

The church at Dives has a list of all the nobles who sailed with William, but initially he had trouble recruiting.

Many thought a campaign against the powerful English was suicide.