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The Bayeux Tapestry: inspiring Hertford scholars across history and politics

23 September 2026

The Bayeux Tapestry is taking centre stage in London this autumn, and two Hertford academics have been exploring its significance from very different perspectives.

Emily Winkler, Lecturer in Medieval History, has written Pocket Bayeux Tapestry, published by Bodleian Library Publishing on 10 September to accompany the opening of the British Museum’s Bayeux Tapestry exhibition.

The book contains a 3,000-word introduction and short commentaries on each of the 46 colour plates of the Tapestry, working with 19th-century facsimile illustrations by French draughtsman Victor Sansonetti. Emily’s aim was to create an accessible introduction to the artwork and its history, rewarding readers’ curiosity about both.

‘I counted how many people and trees you would need to build a Viking-style longship. I learned about the ancient Roman tradition of making wine in medieval France – and, it turns out, in southern England. I spent a day doing a medieval embroidery workshop, discovering that this manual, high-precision work is a form of physical labour.’

Details including handbells, Halley’s Comet and horses helped her explore the Tapestry’s visual storytelling and the dramatic events surrounding the Norman Conquest. Writing the book also gave Emily the opportunity to look afresh at an object she knows well. During Hilary term, she visited Reading Museum to re-examine the exceptional copy of the Tapestry made by women in Stafford in the 1880s.

‘For each of the 46 colour plates of Sansonetti’s Tapestry drawings, my commentary had to identify something intriguing to look at, to explain the historical events, and to offer clarity and context. I realised I was curating my own exhibition of the Bayeux Tapestry. My book offers a private viewing of the Tapestry for a single viewer. For a reader holding the book, the exhibition is ongoing, repeat visits are free, and any image can be explored over hours or years.’

From 1066 to the politics of today

The Tapestry also provides a starting point for discussion of contemporary politics. On 2 September, Hertford Politics lecturer John Helferich joined FRANCE 24 for a debate about Franco-British relations, prompted by Emmanuel Macron’s visit to London to launch the British Museum exhibition.

The question was whether this marks a new era in Franco-British relations. John says:

‘The Bayeux Tapestry depicts the Norman conquest of England in 1066. In British national memory, it has been part of a narrative of not having been conquered for 1,000 years, and of the importance of remaining sovereign vis-à-vis increasing European integration. What’s interesting is that now that same tapestry is being used to celebrate a new coming together. But the political reality has quite a bit of catching up to do with that symbolism.’

Emily has also been discussing the Tapestry with wider audiences, including on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and the HistoryExtra podcast, talking about women at the time of the Norman Conquest and exploring questions raised by the artwork.

Together, Emily and John’s contributions show how an artwork created nearly a millennium ago continues to invite new questions about history and storytelling, national memory and international relations.

The Bayeux Tapestry is on display at the British Museum until 10 July 2027.

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