A tale of two tapestries
Plus: how to see Britain’s own Bayeux for free.
Happy Sunday! I’m a bit groggy this morning but very happy and proud of our boys. It was way too hot to play yesterday, but we did it! Just sorting tickets to watch Weds match at the church. We can do this!
Other big news this week – very exciting to hear the Bayeux tapestry is back on British soil after almost 1000 years. A 70m-long medieval masterpiece (embroidery) telling the story of the Norman Conquest. On display at the British Museum from Sep-Jun 2027. I missed out on priority booking – tickets sold out on the first day, but there’ll be more on sale later this year for ‘27. Will get my act together. Julieta really wants to go.
“I have to see it. That’s MY field!!” She was born in Hastings, went to Battle Abbey nursery and we lived in Battle for a few years.
Huge thanks to local MP Helena Dollimore who’s been campaigning to ensure 1066 residents get to see it. Great to hear Southeastern has agreed to fund 1066 free train tickets for school parties.
And a shoutout to the comms team at the British Museum – a story within a story – for all their hard work making this happen. They did several dry runs – it survived the potholes and got here in one piece. Great idea to project Eliott Wheatland-Clinch’s design – Merci! – onto the white cliffs of Dover. How fabulous does this look…
2026/27 is the ‘Year of the Norman’ so there’ll be loads going on down here and all around the UK. Lovely to see the whole country get behind this.
I’ve been doing a bit of research – didn’t realise there are TWO tapestries. We have our own version - a full-sized Victorian replica, which you can see for free at Reading Museum. Read all about Elizabeth Wardle’s ambitious mission in Emily-Ann Elliot’s article.
So, if you’re mad for it and pre-book, you could visit both – Batman and Robin – in one day. The journey between Reading Museum and the British Museum takes about 1 hr 15 on the Elizabeth Line. It’ll be strict slots at the BM (40 mins one-way ticket) so best to brush up on the designs beforehand. The Reading one is self-paced so more leisurely. Less people in your face.
It’s coming home. I want England to win the World Cup - we need this, but I also don’t mind if France win, given we’re joined at the hip. Long live the Entente Cordiale! And our shared language.
I’m planning to do the 1066 Country Walk – 31 miles between Pevensey Castle and Rye. Take pics of the 10 Bayeux tapestry sculptures along the route, created by local artist Keith A Pettit. Follow the story while you walk…
I’ve done the Hastings to Battle bit solo and all over Rye – all good – and the signage is probably better now. If you stopover in Battle, you can see the new 1066 exhibition at Battle Abbey.
Enjoy!
N xo
From the summer of 1976 💛