Plaster casts of the Bayeux Tapestry go on display

Three Victorian hand-painted plaster casts of details from the Bayeux Tapestry will go on display at English Heritage’s Rievaulx Abbey in March 2027.

This exclusive exhibition is part of the British Museum’s nationwide partnership initiative, Bayeux Around Britain. The wider national program aims to bring the epic story of the Bayeux Tapestry which is being showcased at the British Museum itself, which started in September.

Created in the early 19th century these rare historical casts are seldom seen by the public. Rievaulx Abbey’s museum will serve as the only northern venue to host them, running from March 2027 through May 2027.

There is a lot of enthusiasm for the collaboration, highlighting that Rievaulx Abbey offers a spectacular backdrop for spring visitors.

As a major conservation charity, English Heritage preserves numerous properties tied to the Norman Conquest. From the iconic 1066 battlefield itself to monastic ruins like Rievaulx. The arrival of these artifacts on British shores offers an opportunity to inspire people to explore their local heritage.

Organisers have worked with heritage colleagues across the United Kingdom to craft a sweeping program of loans and cultural activities. This widespread effort extends far beyond London to transform the tapestry's arrival into a genuinely national moment.

Representing one of the most ambitious and inclusive museum partnerships ever executed in the UK, the initiative brings together more than 60 partners across the UK and the Channel Islands.

For centuries, scholars and artists have studied and reinterpreted the Bayeux Tapestry, which details the events ending in the Norman invasion of England.

In 1816, the Society of Antiquaries hired artist Charles Alfred Stothard to produce the first complete, full colour drawings of the embroidery. During this undertaking, Stothard took physical moulds by applying wax directly to the historic textile's surface. While this invasive method risked damaging the original Tapestry and would never be permitted today, it yielded these unique plaster casts, three of which the British Museum acquired in 1878. The specific casts heading north depict King Harold Godwinson at his coronation, alongside Duke William of Normandy receiving intelligence and preparing for battle in full armour.

For more information:
www.britishmuseum.org/our-work/national/uk-touring-exhibitions-and-loans/current-tours/bayeux-around-britain-casting-masterpiece

Photograph: English Heritage