The Bayeux tapestry is being loaned to United Kingdom

I saw it in Bayeux many years ago but didn't spend enough time to see much detail as we were there on a family holiday and my kids were too young to apreciate it. I recently went to see the replica that is displayed in Reading Museum with a group of stitchers. We have recently produced a much smaller embroidery of our local area and all the people who meet regularly through a local charity. I guess we may end up having a trip to see the original in London as we are not too far away.

On an OU summer school in Caen, I drove some fellow students to Bayeux to see the tapestry. Middle aged though we were, we paid student rates for admission and enjoyed the introductory video. I had learnt all (?) about the Battle of Hastings and the tapestry in primary school, so it was such a thrill to see it in its wonderful entirety as an adult. I'd love to see it again, but by the time they settle it in its 'migrant' state, somewhere in London, it would probably be easier to reach Normandy!

It’s on my calendar already. It’s at the British Museum.

I saw it in France some years ago. It looked very fragile so wonder how easily it can be transported without damaging it.

I'll be interested to see how they transport it. I imagine it will be a mammoth job.

Moonwatcher1904

I'll be interested to see how they transport it. I imagine it will be a mammoth job.

Well it won't be in a small boat lol!

French news is reporting that over 1 million viewers are expected to visit it in the 10 months it is in London.
Normally it receives atound 420,00 visitors a year in Bayeux.

I expect it will be very popular. It’s very long so it will be a slow shuffle but more time to examine the details.

keepingquiet.....lol

keepingquiet 😂🤣
It will be in one of these:

It's nothing new- people coming over the channel in boats and then taking over...I blame the French lol!
Funny how we all still speak English though...

And it's started. I'm just reading about all the objections now being raised by French experts concerning the transportation of the tapestry. All down to its fragility.

For those of you who understand fabrics, because it is a horizontal, not vertical work of Art, the material comes under the stress of micro vibrations when transported. These movements subtly cause the material to tear. There are already several tiny holes in it which could be very sensitive to handling and movement.

Neither can it be folded, because that would cause cracks, but it will somehow have to be to fitted into three special cases. Apparently it will be rested on a screen, then the framework will be folded inwards. It's going by lorry via the Channel Tunnel, so no boats involved here, small or otherwise!

Excuse any poor English here on my part. I'm translating bits from today's French newspapers.

For those of you who understand fabrics, because it is a horizontal, not vertical work of Art, the material comes under the stress of micro vibrations when transported.
Due to the way it hangs.

Not exactly a solution to all the problems besetting the UK, is it?

It’s not a tapestry, which is woven, it’s a surface embroidery. It’s coming here while its home in Bayeux is renovated.
It’s an absolute wonder of the world because most of it has survived 1000 years and shows us so much of our history. What did people then wear and eat? How did they live, worship, build and fight? What did they find important or funny? Why and when and how was it made and preserved?
It wouldn’t seem boring if you looked closely and learned more about it.

It’s not a tapestry, which is woven, it’s a surface embroidery.
Good point watermeadow. Same as the WW2 Overlord Embroidery which was inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry .

Oh dear, if they do get it over here, it might be too fragile to make the return journey. 🤔

Oh no! Hadn't thought of that! 🤣
There's probably an ancient guillotine mothballed somewhere in France. Macron would have to go into hiding for agreeing the loan.

Allira

Oh dear, if they do get it over here, it might be too fragile to make the return journey. 🤔

We’ll just have to keep it, oh dear what a shame🤭

escaped

Also, (starting to sound like a guide book now), you can see William the Conq's thigh bone in Abbey Saint-Étienne in Caen.
The huge Romanesque church was founded in 1063 by William and he was buried there, but during theFrench Wars of Religion, his tomb was opened and the bones were scattered and lost, apart from the thigh bone!

Or William the Conk as we kids used to call him. Bet he never imagined in his wildest dreams that his thigh bone would still be kicking around a thousand years in the future.
He may have been pleased🤔

Did you know that during WW2 the tapestry was hidden in a château in the countryside? The Germans found it and took it to Paris, where Hermann Göring, a big art fan, had it packaged up ready to be taken to his home in Berlin.
Just in time the Allies arrived in the capital, and the tapestry was saved.
So it has a chequered past.

I'm sure my 30X Great Grandmother was one of the embroiderers ...
If only our sitting room was long enough to take it 🤔

escaped

Did you know that during WW2 the tapestry was hidden in a château in the countryside? The Germans found it and took it to Paris, where Hermann Göring, a big art fan, had it packaged up ready to be taken to his home in Berlin.
Just in time the Allies arrived in the capital, and the tapestry was saved.
So it has a chequered past.

Interesting! One in the eye for Hermann, you might say😜

Allira

I'm sure my 30X Great Grandmother was one of the embroiderers ...
If only our sitting room was long enough to take it 🤔

Cut into handy portions and distribute round the house?

The loan, which will mark the first time the Bayeux Tapestry has been in the UK in nearly 1,000 years, will be displayed in the The Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery of the British Museum in London between September 2026 and July 2027.

Found this on a government site.