Bringing Back the Bayeux Tapestry: One Stitch at a Time

Close up of stitching, c. 1070

Only a few years after William the Conqueror's conquest of England in 1066, the famous Battle of Hastings was commemorated in the Bayeux Tapestry. Historians date this piece as completed in 1070 CE, only six years after the Battle of Hastings. Since it's creation, all 75 panels have been a source of awe. The stitchwork itself shows incredible detail in order to tell an incredible story. Notably, the Bayeux Tapestry is not a true tapestry because the images were stitched onto the linen, not into the linen itself. Regardless of the "tapestry-ness" of the piece, the craftsmanship of the Bayeux Tapestry is amazing.

In recent times, people across the world have tried to make copies of the original tapestry, from a scrolling recreating on paper to quilted reimaginings of the original story, each new rendition maintains the grandeur of the original.

One of the most widely distributed recreations is on mica-coated paper which allows for the impersonation of stitches. The paper itself is about 43 meters (about 141 feet) and encased in a table with a glass top to enable viewing. Printed and produced by The Folio Society in England, their hope in making all 480 recreations is that they would be put in libraries and schools to encourage a closeness of English history to the modern day.

Bayeux Tapestry by Annette Banks, William is crowned King of England

Another recreation of the Bayeux Tapestry exists in a very colorful and quilted form, done by Annette Banks in the early 2000s. Banks was diagnosed with hyperactivity and Cushing's Syndrome, which stunted her life expectancy. However, with a passion for English history and a talent in sewing and stitching, Banks was encouraged by her father to recreate the famous tapestry. Her final work was around 51 feet long and much brighter than the original. Pictured to the right is Banks' recreation of the Bayeux Tapestry.








References:

Beardsley, Eleanor. “Reviving the Rich Legacy of the Bayeux Tapestry.” NPR, NPR, 26 Dec. 2005, www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5069696.

Gladstone, Richard. “Recreation of Famous Bayeux Tapestry.” News, Rye & Battle Observer, 2 June 2017, www.ryeandbattleobserver.co.uk/news/recreation-of-famous-bayeux-tapestry-1-7990381.

Shearing, Sue. “Woman Recreates Bayeux Tapestry in 20 Year Bid to Beat Hyperactivity.” Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 29 Nov. 2006, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-419494/Woman-recreates-Bayeux-tapestry-20-year-bid-beat-hyperactivity.html.

Tanton, Kristine. “The Bayeux Tapestry.” Khan Academy, Khan Academy, 2018, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/early-europe-and-colonial-americas/medieval-europe-islamic-world/a/bayeux-tapestry.