The Silk Museum announces Macclesfield and the Bayeux – a monumental community celebration of textile heritage

Macclesfield and The Bayeux: A Tale of Two Tapestries is a major exhibition and series of events launching Saturday 19 September and running until 19 December 2026. The programme forms part of Bayeux Around Britain, the British Museum’s national celebration marking the historic loan of the original Bayeux Tapestry to the UK by the French government.

At the heart of the exhibition is the Macclesfield History Tapestry, a stunning collaborative artwork created by over 100 local people under the guidance of artists Becca Smith and Ailsa Holland. Blending Macclesfield’s rich textile heritage, medieval history, and contemporary creative energy, the tapestry serves as a community-crafted map and narrative chronicling nearly 900 years of the town’s people, buildings, and landscape.

Becca Smith, co-artist of the tapestry project and Director of The New Macclesfield School of Art, reflected on the journey: “I have been running community cartogrpahy stitching projects @sewyourplace for two years now, from Kew Gardens to Buxton, and this project started with the idea of a map showing our medieval history. Ailsa's love of the Bayeux-stitch gave the project a strong look and grounded the workshops in skill-sharing.  How the community has stitched our town's history to life has been truly beyond what I envisioned at the very beginning. The response to every workshop or stitching session has been brilliant, but not surprising for Macc.

“The tapestry is full of surprises: Medieval buildings brought back to life with colour in thread, and the history of working people taking control of their lives. It tells stories of turmoil, power, peace and the wilderness on our doorstep. I can’t wait for everyone to
see what we’ve created together”

Alongside the Macclesfield History Tapestry and the voices of those that stitched it, visitors can explore The Story of the Bayeux, a display provided by the British Museum featuring engaging audio-visual and interactive elements. The Silk Museum is one of 60 partner organisations across the country displaying these materials to communicate the significance of the Bayeux Tapestry and helping to ensure that Bayeux Tapestry-related activity is within an hour's drive of two-thirds of the country.

The Silk Museum is already home to a rare piece of the famous Leek Replica, a full-scale Victorian replica of the Bayeux Tapestry created in 1885 by 35 women of the Leek Embroidery Society. What’s more, the opening of the exhibition times with the launch of Macclesfield’s first ever Textile Week, a town-wide festival celebrating its industrial heritage and creative communities.

Dr. Clare Harding, Director of The Silk Museum said: "We’re absolutely thrilled to be part of Bayeux Around Britain and to present an exhibition that places our community’s incredible creative spirit front and centre. The Macclesfield History Tapestry is a considered and charming testament to our town's heritage. Combined with the British Museum's exhibition materials, our panel from the Leek Replica, and launching alongside Macclesfield’s first ever Textile Week, this promises to be an unmissable experience for visitors of all ages."

EVENTS PROGRAMME

Running alongside the free exhibition is a packed schedule of talks, hands-on workshops, and family activities, with the launch coinciding with the start of the inaugural Macclesfield Textile Week on 19 September and running at The Silk Museum until 19 December.

The Macclesfield History Tapestry Launch.
Join exhibition curators and artists Becca Smith and Alisa Holland as they explore the creative journey and community stories behind the project. Talk, followed by Q&A, and photo opportunity. 
19 September. 1:30 pm – 3 pm. 
FREE, Booking Required

Natural Dye Workshop: Colours of The Bayeux Tapestry
Dive into medieval textile dyeing with expert Kirsteen McGregor and craft your own medieval coin purse or pomander. 
23 September, 12 pm – 5 pm.
£42.50, delivered by The New Macclesfield School of Art

Medieval Clothing and Survival
Discover what Maxonians wore in the year of the Norman Conquest with bushcraft clothing maker Brian Painter and artist-historian Becca Smith.
24 September, 6 pm – 7:30 pm. 
FREE, Booking Required

Bayeux Tapestry Stitch Workshop
Learn iconic stitch techniques from both the original and local tapestries with Ailsa Holland and Becca Smith, creating your own piece of history 
24 September. 10:30am – 3pm
£42.50, delivered by The New Macclesfield School of Art

Livestreaming Event (Home Educators)
Celebrate the 960th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings with a special broadcast from the British Museum, followed by an exclusive exhibition visit. 
14 October, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm
FREE, booking required

Medieval Mayhem! Family Half-Term Activities
Over October half-term, families can enjoy Family Crafts (28–29 October) exploring heraldry and illuminated initials, a Stained Glass Special (28 October), and Storytelling in Pictures (29 October). 
FREE

More events include an afternoon of Chartist Ballads with international folk singer Jennifer Reed, a Medieval Winter Lino Printing session, and more natural dye and stitching workshops.

EXCLUSIVE MERCHANDISE

To commemorate the exhibition, a brand-new range of Macclesfield History Tapestry merchandise will launch exclusively in The Silk Museum gift shop, and will feature bespoke jigsaws, tote bags, gift cards, pin badges, sticker sheets, and more.

Admission to the Macclesfield and The Bayeux exhibition is FREE. For full details, including events and workshop bookings, as well as opening times, please visit The Silk Museum or view the website at www.thesilkmuseum.co.uk . The Silk Museum is located on Park Lane, Macclesfield, SK11 6TJ, and is open Wednesdays – Saturdays, 10am – 4pm