Why wont my battery ingnition light come on?

Travelled into Durham today car running ok, stopped car. When I went to start it, turned key and everything at first looked normal as it should, turned key further to start engine, nothing happened battery lamp went off on dash (after turnng key). Tried seveal times but battery lamp stayed off and car would not start. Bump started car, got me home.
Checked out all the fuses I could find in the fuse box in the the car and under the bonnet, could not find any blown fuses.
Anyone have any other suggestions as to what the problem could be.?

Oh,checked the battery earth lead to engine block it loos fine and checked battery with volt metre shoule 12.2v.

Harry little
November 2010