The Bayeux Tapestry

Surely any sharing of artifacts is a good thing. we have the Terracotta Warriors coming over again- I missed them last time. I understand we are offering to send the Rosetta Stone to them at the same time.
Great idea.

I could have sworn we were shown the Bayeux Tapestry or something just like it when I went for a week to the Cinque Ports (staying at Hythe) with my school, 55 years ago. We went to at least one castle and I could have sworn the teacher showed us some long tapestry. Probably wasn't paying much attention I was usually more interested in getting to the bit where we ate our packed lunches.

Readymeals

I agree with others, sharing artifacts and exhibitions has been going on for a long time, and long may it continue.

Like many others, we saw the original on a holiday in France many years ago. Amazing workmanship. I did a taster course on the Bayeaux stitch back in October. It was very interesting and quite an easy stitch to do. (Just by the by, doing a taster on stump work embroidery tomorrow)! ?

Glad you agree anno- I did 2 courses with NT about the preservation of antique textiles and it is very difficult to move an ancient piece- especially one so massive and so old.

I do agree sharing cultural treasures and artefacts is wonderful- but not if it puts in danger the treasure in question. Terracotta Warriers were 'easy' to wrap and protect. not so ancient tapestry.

Will definitely go to Reading to see the copy- thank you so much, I had no idea.

You are absolutely right Jura2. The’Normans’ ...were ‘Norse men’ and came from the north and were vikings, nothing to do with the French. The people fighting them in Hastings were rag- taggle bunch also imported into England. The true English had retreated into Cornwall and Wales by this time ...and that’s where you’ll find them today. Rest of us are from immigrant stock!!!! Funny how we shout about immigrants but when we go to live in someone else’s country were ‘ex-pats’ . Can anyone tell me what’s is ‘patriotic’ about leaving your country?!

Well I've done it twice Saggi- at 19 I came to London for 6 months to learn English, working as a trilingual secretary for Beechams in London. Went back home for a short while- but future OH came to fetch me back- and stayed 40 years.

I always loved both countries- of birth and of adoption.
Came back to CH to look after very elderly parents when we retire (with British OH) - and truly feel we have 2 countries we call home. I see no issue at all with this, au contraire- and no divided loyalties either. Will probably go back to UK when very old to be near children and grandchildren- but only if Noel wins his appeal to Die with Dignity. Love both countries and yet never felt this 'patriotism' people talk about- or blind faith. I love both, and yet can be very critical of both too.

Sarah helen I think anyone going to Italy to look at the Mona Lisa would be in for a long search as it is on show in the Louvre museum in Paris. Been on show there since the late Eighteenth Century.

I’ve taken the GC to see the copy in Reading Museum several times & we are usually the only people there. It was done by 35 skilled embroiderers in 1885. There is one big difference - they put pants on the naked men in one scene.
Wasn’t the original an early example of spinning the news for the locals & PR purposes? Norman fake news maybe.

It'll need a good wash in Woolite before it comes over.

We've seen it long ago when the children were small and very impressed. I bought a book about it with pictures and explanations but I guess some ideas have changed now. I'd like to see it again.

There is a cracking life size copy in Reading Museum which I saw just before Christmas for the first time.

He won that one, but then had to march to the South coast to fight William
And by that time they were worn out.

There has been a suggestion that as an exhibit of a bygone age we could exchange Jacob Rees-Mogg with the tapestry.

I can imagine that the curators are cursing Macron for making this offer. Has he really thought it through?
anno I just don't know if it will, in fact, be feasible. It would probably be cheaper for Macron to arrange some day trips for all of us who wish to go and see it in situ.
I meant that as a joke, but actually, it would be more practical.

Saggi I thought that the original 'English' were Anglo-Saxons from Germanic tribes that came over after the Romans had left (about the 5th century). Whilst the Romans were here I thought many native Britons spoke a type of Latin (Vulgar Latin) as well as their own language.

The British were pushed to the fringes, therefore the Welsh are descended from the British, not the English and Welsh is a Brittonic language, not derived from English.

Perhaps someone will know more (or different).

The ex- in expats is gives the clue, Saggi. They are no longer in their native land. If they were sent back to it they would be repatriated. Travel insurance often includes provision for repatriating you should you become ill while abroad.

Whitewave
But would we be obliged to take him back? ???

We could disown all knowledge.

Absolutely right - it needs to be back here! Hoping I can see it

Some experts say that it was never here in the first place...

they are still arguing discussing its origins.

We know the origins of our own replica:

www.bayeuxtapestry.org.uk/bayeuxinfo.htm

Now there's a good way to annoy Macron. I thought we were supposed to be trying to keep him sweet over Brexit.
We need him more than he needs us.

If you look very carefully there is a tiny label with “Made in China. Dry Clean only” on the back.

Elegran - I'm told Bredon Hill in Worcestershire is so good it's named three times. Apparently both bree and don mean 'hill'.