Bayeaux Tapestry
Introduction I have just returned from a 650 mile round trip to view the famous Bayeaux Tapestry a facsimile of which being on display at Tewkesbury Abbey in the English Cotswolds. In fact the tapestry is an embroidery but in this report I will use the description of tapestry as this is in common use. Tewkesbury Abbey Information on the Bayeaux Tapestry The cloth comprising the tapestry is nearly 70 metres (230 feet) long and 50 cm (20 inches) tall. It depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England led by William, Duke of Normandy (France) and the transforming Battle of Hastings in 1066. Due to the length of the tapestry the presentation of it has been split into two sections-hence two videos below. Basically, the underlying story of the tapestry centres on a dispute over succession of the English monarchy. The kingship should have passed to William of Normandy on death of Edward the Confessor but Harold reneged on his oath of allegiance to Wil...