12 Facts You Probably Didn't Know About Britain’s Bayeux Tapestry

25th June 2026

You may know that Reading Museum is home to Britain’s Bayeux Tapestry, but how much do you know about the remarkable story behind it? From Victorian women embroiderers to a famous pair of added underpants, here are some fascinating facts about one of Reading’s most treasured exhibits.

1. It was created so England could have its own Bayeux Tapestry

In 1885, Elizabeth and Thomas Wardle visited the original Bayeux Tapestry in France and decided that England should have a full-size copy of its own.

2. It was made by 35 women in just over a year

The replica was created between 1885 and 1886 by members of the Leek Embroidery Society in Staffordshire, led by Elizabeth Wardle.

3. It's not actually a tapestry

Despite its name, both the original Bayeux Tapestry and Reading's version are embroideries. They were hand-stitched using woollen yarns onto a linen backing cloth.

4. It stretches for more than 70 metres

Britain’s Bayeux Tapestry is a full-size replica of the original, making it over 70 metres long.

5. It contains the signatures of the women who made it

The British replica is slightly taller than the original because it includes an extra blue border at the bottom. Here, the 35 embroiderers stitched their names beneath the sections they completed.

6. Women from across the country helped create it

As well as members of the Leek Embroidery Society, women from Derbyshire, Birmingham, Macclesfield and London contributed to the project.

7. It was based on Victorian photographs

The replica was created using tracings taken from full-size hand-coloured photographs held by the South Kensington Museum, now known as the Victoria and Albert Museum.

8. A famous mistake added underpants to the story

One of the most talked-about differences between the original and the replica is a pair of underpants stitched onto a naked figure. The embroiderers copied what they saw in the museum photographs, which had already been "cleaned up" by Victorian standards.

9. It toured internationally before arriving in Reading

After first being exhibited in Leek in June 1886, the tapestry travelled around Britain and was even displayed in Germany and America.

10. It arrived in Reading 131 years ago

The tapestry was brought to Reading Town Hall for an exhibition in June 1895, where it attracted considerable interest.

11. It was gifted to the people of Reading

Former Reading Mayor Alderman Arthur Hill purchased the replica from the Leek Embroidery Society and donated it to the town in 1895.

12. You can see the entire tapestry in one gallery

In 1993, Reading Museum opened a permanent gallery for Britain’s Bayeux Tapestry. After careful conservation work, the entire embroidery could once again be displayed together for visitors to enjoy.

See This Incredible Piece of History for Yourself

Britain’s Bayeux Tapestry remains one of Reading’s most unique attractions and a remarkable example of Victorian craftsmanship. Next time you're visiting Reading Museum, take a closer look and discover the story of 1066, and the story of the women who recreated it, one stitch at a time.