Bayeux Tapestry smuggled into Britain for first visit in 1,000 years

The indebtedness of the artwork is seen arsenic symbolic of French-British relations arsenic London works to mend ties post-Brexit.

The Bayeux Tapestry has arrived successful Britain for the archetypal clip successful astir 1,000 years pursuing a concealed travel from France.

The priceless 70-metre-long medieval artwork depicting the Norman conquest of England was discreetly delivered to the British Museum successful London successful a high-security cognition overnight connected Friday.

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Crafted from wool thread stitched onto linen, the tapestry accurately depicts the intertwined – sometimes bloody – histories of Britain and France, and is symbolic for some countries.

Although expected successful London for months, details of the tapestry’s 11-hour roadworthy travel were hidden for information reasons.

The tapestry is making its archetypal sojourn to Britain since it was made – astir apt successful England – adjacent to 1,000 years ago. It volition beryllium connected show astatine the depository until July 2027.

The indebtedness is seen arsenic symbolic of person French-British relations arsenic London works to revive ties pursuing its exit from the European Union.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who announced the indebtedness past year, hailed the transportation arsenic a solemnisation of Franco-British relations.

In an nonfiction published successful The Times newspaper, helium called it a “tangible look of long-standing relationship and a motion of our shared tendency to spot France and the United Kingdom physique their aboriginal together”.

In return, the British Museum volition indebtedness France the Sutton Hoo postulation of Anglo-Saxon artefacts, 1 of England’s astir important archaeological finds.

“I tin corroborate that The Bayeux Tapestry has conscionable arrived safely and securely astatine the British Museum,” George Osborne, seat of the British Museum, said successful a station connected X.

“It feels bonzer that aft truthful overmuch enactment and readying and attraction and thought that it’s really happening,” British Museum Director Nicholas Cullinan told The Associated Press quality agency.

To get the artwork from its location successful Bayeux, Normandy, to London, the portion was folded into a climate-controlled lawsuit with a shock-absorbing cradle. A police-escorted motortruck past carried it done the Channel Tunnel.

The tapestry’s 58 scenes picture the bloody events surrounding the Norman penetration of England successful 1066, showing banquets, fleets of Viking-style ships, and armoured knights wielding swords and spears.

The upheaval culminated successful the epic Battle of Hastings successful October 1066 erstwhile William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold’s Anglo-Saxon forces and became the archetypal Norman king of England.

Bishop Odo of Bayeux, William’s half-brother, commissioned the piece, and women successful England – perchance nuns – apt crafted it earlier it was taken to France, according to the Bayeux Tapestry Museum.

The indebtedness to Britain coincides with renovations astatine the Bayeux depository lodging the tapestry. In return, the British Museum volition indebtedness the Normandy depository artefacts from a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon vessel burial.

The Bayeux Tapestry accumulation astatine the British Museum has already sold thousands of tickets.