Man recreates Bayeux Tapestry in cross-stitch over forty years
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Ian Williams, a 70-year-old retiree from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, spent nearly four decades cross-stitching a replica of the Bayeux Tapestry.
He began the project to occupy his time during a long train commute and continued it after seeing the original tapestry in Bayeux, France. Williams used a small book with images of the original as a guide, enlarging and tracing the outlines to create his version.
The replica is about one-third the size of the 230ft original and depicts the events leading up to the Norman invasion of England in 1066 and the Battle of Hastings. Williams found the process both relaxing and educational, learning about history while meticulously recreating the ancient embroidery. He noted details and imperfections in the original tapestry as he worked.
Williams’ tapestry will be displayed at the Market Street Hall in Macduff at the same time the original Bayeux Tapestry is on loan from France and exhibited at the British Museum in London until July 2027. He described discovering details in the original as a highlight of the project.
