Don’t miss out on Hastings Embroidery

Almost 5,000 people have been to the Hastings Embroidery exhibition at Hastings Town Hall. Don’t miss out on your chance – visit before the exhibition closes on Sunday 1 November.

The Hastings Embroidery was created in 1966 to mark the 900th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings and is on display again as part of the celebrations of the Bayeux Tapestry being at the British Museum. 

One of the visitors to the embroidery has been one of the apprentice sewers who worked on the embroidery.

Frances heard it was back on display and made the trip to Hastings to see it.

She said: “I worked as an apprentice at the Royal School of Needlework when I left school at the age of 15. As apprentices we only worked on the outlines of the trees, a cloak or buildings. We often found that the work we had done one day was undone and a different colour put in or done in a different way the next day.  

“I was so pleased to know the embroidery was on show once again so had to go and see it. It was just as I remembered it is a pictorial story telling of significant historical events in embroidery, just like the Bayeux tapestry.”

Cllr Julia Hilton, deputy leader of Hastings Borough Council and lead councillor for shaping place, regeneration and community wealth building, said: “I'm delighted that the embroidery has been so popular since it opened at the end of August. Some days we have had more than 200 people visit the exhibition which shows the interest in this historic and unique piece of work which shows how life in Britain changed between 1066 and 1966.  

“The exhibition is a great example of partnership working between us here at Hastings Borough Council, East Sussex College Group who made the frames for the embroidery, and the British Museum who have been supportive of this as part of their Bayeux around Britain programme. 

“Alongside the embroidery exhibition there are events and activities across the town to mark the 1,000th anniversary of the birth of William the Conqueror and the Year of the Normans. When you come to view the embroidery, make sure you also enjoy the Norman banner trail which runs from Hastings Station to Hastings Castle. The banners have been designed by the community, with printing funded by the Community Rail Network and kindly installed by Booker and Best.” 

The exhibition is open from 10am to 4pm, Thursday to Monday. Tickets are free and can be booked online through Eventbrite. If you are unable to book, walk-ins are available.

If you are interested in viewing other Norman artefacts in Hastings, Hastings History House, in Courthouse Street, hosts a one-third laminated and printed copy of the Bayeux Tapestry, and a model of the Battle of Hastings battlefields. Hastings History House is open 11am to 4pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.