Bayeux tapestry travels to England for first time in 900 years
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In London, the 230-foot Bayeux Tapestry depicting the 1066 Norman Conquest of England has gone on display after a journey from France.
The tapestry, commissioned by William the Conqueror’s half-brother, originally remained in Normandy for over nine centuries. Historians believe English seamstresses stitched the tapestry, subtly criticizing the Normans within its scenes. French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to loan the tapestry to the United Kingdom after years of discussion.
Transporting the fragile, 1,000-year-old linen required extensive preparation, including test runs with a replica and a specialized refrigerated truck. Curators carefully monitored vibrations, temperature, and humidity during the trip through the Channel Tunnel. The British Museum anticipates large crowds for the exhibition, celebrating a key moment in English history and the origins of the current monarch’s family line. The tapestry illustrates events like the Battle of Hastings, where King Harold was killed by an arrow.
