The Bayeux Tapestry has come home. We know that the embroidery was created somewhere in England nearly 1,000 years ago, following the Norman conquest.
It disappeared into obscurity for many centuries in France. Once a year it was displayed in Bayeux Cathedral before being folded away again. It only really came to prominence in the 18th century, when scholars took interest and published engravings bringing it to a wider public. Napoleon, with his own imperial French ambitions for conquest, used it for his own propaganda purposes. Since then, the 70-metre-long embroidery has continued to capture the popular imagination.
A time at the museum
The temporary exhibition at the British Museum is truly historic. The record of a pivotal moment in history that is captured in this iconic artefact is likely to attract 7.5 million visitors. Despite ticketing, it will certainly be the most viewed object in the British Museum, and likely a topic of discussion throughout 2027.
