Canterbury City Council is urging the British Museum to grant local residents priority booking to view the Bayeux Tapestry during its upcoming exhibition.
While residents of Hastings and Rother have already been granted advance access owing to their historical connections to the tapestry, Canterbury has been omitted from the scheme despite widespread consensus among historians that the masterpiece was crafted within the district.
The council is calling for this ‘oversight’ to be rectified immediately to ensure local people receive equal recognition.
Council Leader, Cllr Alan Baldock, highlighted Canterbury’s long-standing position at the centre of the nation’s literary and heritage tradition, noting that the city has inspired renowned creators throughout history, including Geoffrey Chaucer, Christopher Marlowe, Aphra Behn, Joseph Conrad, Mary Tourtel, W. Somerset Maugham, and the creators of Bagpuss and the Clangers, Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate.
He emphasized that the tapestry’s connection to Canterbury remains a point of immense local pride and argued that while Hastings provided the historical event, Canterbury’s local embroiderers provided the artistry. Denying Canterbury residents early access, he added, feels like a slap in the face for the very community whose ancestors brought the historic work to life.