The story of the Bayeux Tapestry, with Dr David Musgrove
Join Dr David Musgrove for this video series for the HistoryExtra Academy, as he traces the threads of the Bayeux Tapestry story
Published: September 3, 2026 at 2:41 PM
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What is all the fuss about with the Bayeux Tapestry? Why is the loan of this medieval embroidery from France to the British Museum causing such a lot of excitement?
It’s the first time that this most famous of medieval artworks has been on English soil since it was made almost a thousand years ago, so its exhibition in London is rightly big news for history enthusiasts. I’ve been thinking about the Tapestry for many years, and I’ve co-written a book about it with the curator of the British Museum exhibition (The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry), so in this six-part HistoryExtra Academy series, I’ll give you chapter and verse about why the Tapestry matters.
You probably know that the Tapestry gives us an embroidered view of the battle of Hastings of 1066, and that it shows England’s King Harold dying from an arrow in the eye, as the invading forces of Duke William of Normandy win the day and defeat the Anglo-Saxons. In my Academy series, I’ll explain that the Tapestry actually covers a lot more than just that one battle, and really tells us a lot about the politics of the time as much as the military manoeuvres. I’ll also talk about whether it really does show that famous ocular injury for Harold (spoiler, it probably doesn’t).
I’ll tell you what the experts think about who actually made the Tapestry, and where, when, how, and why it was created. I’ll spend a bit of time considering why the Tapestry contains so much graphic nudity, and I’ll consider why Napoleon and the Nazis were so interested in it as well. I’ll also explain why I think the Tapestry, magnificent though it is, has coloured our understanding of the 1066 story by telling us a very partial account of the events of the Norman Conquest.
Filmed on location at Bristol Cathedral’s Norman Chapter House, this series traces the threads of its story, its creation, its mysteries, and its journey through history. So, whether you’re planning on trying to get to the British Museum to see the famous embroidery up close, or you simply want to buff up your knowledge about it, I hope you’ll enjoy my online Tapestry tour.
Explore the Bayeux Tapestry
Episode 1: What is the Bayeux Tapestry?
“As the 11th-century embroidery is unveiled at the British Museum in London in a landmark exhibition, hear the inside story of one of the most famous and important medieval artworks in the world. In episode 1, we explore what we know in answer to the key questions: when was it made, and where?”
Episode 2: Is the Bayeux Tapestry the ultimate action thriller?
“Three leaders in one year, rulers undermined by scandal and subterfuge, and a mighty battle to settle who holds power. The story told in the Bayeux Tapestry holds a lot of action. In episode 2, we walk through the drama, the intrigue, the battles, and the moments that shaped English history forever.”
Episode 3: The Bayeux Tapestry’s ‘big moment’
“Resume the story of the action in the Bayeux Tapestry, as a momentous matter between 11th-century rivals Harold and William comes to a head. In episode 3, I turn to one of the embroidery’s most crucial scenes.”
Episode 4: Who made the Bayeux Tapestry?
“Millions have viewed the Bayeux Tapestry since its creation in the 11th century. But what was the medieval embroidery actually for? Who had it made, and who was supposed to look at it? These are the big questions we’re exploring in episode 4.”
Episode 5: The mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry
“Why does the Bayeux Tapestry include an image of a man squatting naked? And what about the birds and horses in the embroidery – what can they tell us about 11th-century beliefs? In episode 5, we look to the margins of the Tapestry, and unravel some of the mysteries held in the borders of the work.”
Episode 6: Why the Nazis loved the Bayeux Tapestry?
“What happened to the Tapestry after the Norman conquest? In the final episode of this HistoryExtra Academy series, we consider the long and surprising afterlife of this most famous of medieval embroideries, featuring Napoleon, Nazis and more.”
Showing 1 to 6 of 6 results
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Join Dr David Musgrove for episode one of this immersive explainer, sharing everything you need to know about one of the most famous and important medieval artworks in the world
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The story told in the Bayeux Tapestry holds a lot of action. In this second episode, Dr David Musgrove walks through the ket moments
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In episode three of his guide to the Bayeux Tapestry, Dr David Musgrove dissects a crucial moment of the 11th-century embroidery, when Harold makes a decision that changes everything…
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Why would you commission an embroidery that's nearly the length of seven London buses? That's the question at the heart of episode four in Dr David Musgrove's video Academy series on the Bayeux Tapestry…
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Why does the Bayeux Tapestry include an image of a man squatting naked? In the fifth episode of his guide, Dr David Musgrove explores the borders of the famous embroidery
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In the final episode of his guide to the Bayeux Tapestry, Dr David Musgrove considers the long and surprising afterlife – which included brushes with Napoleon and Nazis
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