Bayeux Around Britain – Knutsford to be precise

Don’t worry if you can’t travel to London to see the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum. Visit Knutsford Heritage Centre instead for its Terrific Tapestries exhibition. This will showcase the 40ft long Knutsford Millennium Tapestry which contains 6,500,000 stitches across three panels and had contributions from 3,000 people from the town.  It is a magnificent example of community involvement, capturing life in Knutsford in the year 2000, and is still relevant to many families and businesses in the town.

Discover the stories of both tapestries which were made nearly 1,000 years apart. Find out who commissioned them, who produced them, what they are made of and some of the hidden stories and scenes.

As well as information on the Knutsford tapestry there will be a display from the British Museum with beautiful images and videos of the Bayeux Tapestry on our new interactive kiosk as well as a printed display.

Bayeux Around Britain, supported by WorldQuant’ is a nationwide programme designed by the British Museum to communicate the story and significance of the Bayeux Tapestry to as many people as possible, through a network of more than 60 National Partners, including Knutsford Heritage Centre. For the first time since it was made nearly 1,000 years ago, the Bayeux Tapestry returns to England following a historic agreement with France.

The Bayeux Tapestry is a 70-metre-long masterpiece telling the story of the conquest of England in 1066 by William, Duke of Normandy. The embroidery in wool thread on linen cloth was created in the UK and dates back to the 11th century.

Through 58 scenes, 626 characters and 202 horses, the Tapestry gives an account of the medieval period in Normandy and England like no other. It provides information about civil and military architecture, armour and seafaring in the Viking tradition, as well as precious details of everyday life.

There will be events alongside the Heritage Centre exhibition, including talks, a weaving and spinning day, an Anglo-Saxon day, and a theatre production. Family activities will also be available during the exhibition as well as sessions for schools.

There will be the chance to buy bespoke Millennium Tapestry gifts as well as British Museum Bayeux Tapestry items.

The Heritage Centre is also hoping to organise an event for embroiderers who took part in sewing the tapestry. If you were involved please contact the Centre on 01565 650506 or info@knutsfordheritage.co.uk. For more information on the exhibition which runs from October 15th see our website www.knutsfordheritage.co.uk or social media.