National programme offers schools the chance to see the Stothard Casts of the Bayeux Tapestry around various UK venues.
This summer, the Bayeux Tapestry returned to British soil for the first time in almost 1,000 years. The famous embroidery is being displayed at the British Museum in a landmark exhibition that runs into 2027.
To mark the occasion, venues across the country are displaying hand-painted plaster casts of the embroidery, giving school groups another chance to engage with its history.
The casts were created by English artist Charles Alfred Stothard. In 1816, Stothard was commissioned to produce coloured drawings of the original Tapestry and took wax moulds of the embroidery, later creating a series of plaster casts.
The British Museum in London acquired three of these casts in 1878, which are being loaned to UK venues for display.
Director of the British Museum, Dr Nicholas Cullinan OBE, said: “We have been working with colleagues around the UK to deliver a programme of loans and activity that will extend far beyond London to make this a truly national moment. I’m delighted that this 19th-century cast can travel far and wide and be accessible to thousands of people around the UK.”
Displays, exhibits and workshops
Hastings Museum and Art Gallery will be the first to show the three famous casts until November this year, delivering a programme of exhibitions, displays and events inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry and Norman Conquest.
Next stop on the tour will be Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery which will be displaying the Stothard Cast in the recently refurbished 900-year-old Norman Keep, opening on 12th November until 10th January 2027. The exhibit will show Norman objects as well as a digital touch screen version of the original Bayeux Tapestry for comparison.
Other stops on the tour will include the National Library of Wales, Rievaulx Abbey in North Yorkshire, The Great Tapestry of Scotland and Rochester Cathedral. The touring casts will be on display until September 2027.
There will also be hand embroidered replicas of the details from the original Tapestry to let students feel what it might feel like.
School trips to Bayeux Around Britain
Linking to the curriculum for history and PSHE, Bayeux Around Britain aims to immerse visitors into the context of how England came to be.
More than 60 museums and heritage sites are taking part in Bayeux Around Britain, meaning that over two-thirds of the UK will be within an hour’s drive of a Bayeux Tapestry event.
For venues around the UK showing the Stothard Casts, bookings will need to be made directly with them. See the full tour schedule here.
School visits to the British Museum
The original Tapestry will be displayed at the British Museum until July 2027 with educational resources available to help guide students with questions, discussions and time for reflection.
As part of the initiative, the British Museum in London will be offering a 60-minute live broadcast to hundreds of classrooms across the country, introducing KS2 and above to the rich history of the Bayeux Tapestry.
Schools can book timed slots for visits between September and December with a maximum group of 40 (including students and accompanying adults).
See more details about the Bayeux Tapestry here.
