Later this year, the British Museum will open an exhibition of the Bayeux Tapestry on loan from France. It will be the first time in nearly 1,000 years that this artefact has been shown in Britain.
Nationally, it is a major cultural event, but for us in Bexhill and Battle, it feels far more personal.
The Battle of Hastings took place on 14 October 1066 not in Hastings itself, but in what is now the town of Battle in our constituency. It was a turning point in our history. King Harold was killed, William of Normandy claimed the crown, and England changed forever.
Soon after the battle, William founded Battle Abbey as penance for the bloodshed, on the very site where Harold is said to have fallen. Today, English Heritage cares for the battlefield and Abbey ruins. More than 120,000 people visited last year alone to stand on that ground and reflect on what happened there. Every October, the re enactment brings the story back to life, and last year saw its largest ever attendance. It is always striking to see families, school groups and visitors from all around gathered in a place that shaped the course of our nation.
The Bayeux Tapestry tells that story in thread and colour. Seeing it displayed at the British Museum will be a rare opportunity to connect directly with the events that took place on our doorstep almost a millennium ago. I am particularly pleased that the exhibition will form part of a wider national programme involving more than 100 partner sites across the UK, including organisations in Hastings and Battle. There will be dedicated access for schools, digital learning resources and discounted rail travel for pupils in Hastings, St Leonards, Battle and Rother so that local young people can visit.
I will continue working closely with the British Museum to ensure that our area is properly represented throughout this process. That includes pressing for fair access for local people and schools, including discounted tickets where possible, and making sure that the story of 1066 is firmly rooted in the place where it happened. I am also working with local organisations, including English Heritage, to ensure we make the most of the opportunities this exhibition brings for tourism, education and community engagement.
As we look ahead to 2027, the 1,000th anniversary of William’s birth, recognised across Europe as the Year of the Normans, communities here are already playing their part. At Battle Library, Christina Greene is leading a wonderful community project to create the La Mora Tapestry, depicting William’s ship. Local residents have been stitching it together to mark the anniversary, and I was delighted to add a few stitches myself. It is a simple but meaningful reminder that history is not just something we read about. It is something we take part in and pass on.
For Bexhill and Battle, the story shown in the Bayeux Tapestry is not abstract. It happened here. Our landscape, our Abbey and our identity are bound up with it.
This exhibition gives us the chance to celebrate our heritage, support our local economy and ensure that the story of 1066 continues to be understood and appreciated by future generations.