Bayeux Around Britain at RAMM

What if you could step back almost 1,000 years and see Exeter through the eyes of the people who lived through one of the most transformative moments in English history?

Visitors to RAMM (Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery) can do just that, as Exeter becomes part of Bayeux Around Britain - a nationwide celebration inspired by the return of the extraordinary Bayeux Tapestry to the UK.

Supported by WorldQuant and facilitated by The British Museum, Bayeux Around Britain brings together more than 60 museums and cultural organisations across the country. Each partner is exploring its own connections to the tapestry, the Norman invasion and the remarkable story of 1066.

And here in Exeter, that story is particularly powerful.

Image: Bayeux Tapestry © La Fabrique de patrimoines en Normandie, Antoine Cazin

A story woven into Exeter’s history

The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most remarkable surviving records of medieval Europe. Stretching for around 70 metres, its embroidered scenes tell the story of the Norman conquest of England in 1066, from the events leading up to the invasion to William, Duke of Normandy’s victory.

With 58 scenes, 626 characters and 202 horses, it offers an extraordinary window into medieval life - from warfare and ships to buildings, clothing, armour and everyday activities.

But the story doesn't belong only to Normandy or the south coast of England. It belongs to Exeter, too.

Exeter has deep historical connections with France, and archaeological discoveries made in and around the city reveal another side of the events depicted in the tapestry. At RAMM, visitors will be able to see objects that help bring this local story into focus.

Coins minted in Exeter feature three of the central figures of 1066 - Edward the Confessor, Harold II and William I. Excavated pottery reveals both Saxon and Norman traditions, alongside examples made by a French potter who was living and working in Exeter before the Norman Conquest. Fragments of Norman architecture provide another tangible reminder of how dramatically the city changed following the conquest.

Together, these objects help us imagine what Exeter might have looked, sounded and felt like as Saxon England gave way to Norman rule.

History told by a new generation

There is another story behind this exhibition - one about the future. RAMM’s Bayeux Around Britain display and accompanying gallery trail have been curated by participants in the museum’s Skills Development programme.

Over recent months, four university students - Conan Esson, Harry Gibbs, Alex Lake and Octavia Madden - have worked alongside curator Thomas Cadbury to select objects and create interpretation for visitors. As ‘Museum Reps’, they have had the opportunity to gain meaningful, paid work experience while helping shape how Exeter’s history is shared with the public.

Their involvement reflects something fundamental to RAMM’s mission: museums are not simply places where we preserve the past. They are places where people can find their voice, develop skills, ask questions and shape the stories we tell about ourselves.

By putting young people at the heart of this project, RAMM is creating a connection between Exeter’s past and its future.

Get creative with the Bayeux Tapestry

The story doesn’t stop at the museum display.

As part of the wider programme, RAMM will join a nationwide celebration of crafting inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, in partnership with the Craft Council, taking place in spring and summer 2027. It’s a chance to respond to the tapestry not just by looking at it, but by making something of your own - continuing a tradition of storytelling through craft that has survived for almost a thousand years.

Discover Norman Exeter

For those who want to delve deeper into Exeter’s role in the events of 1066, the Friends of RAMM will host Conquered: Norman Exeter and Devon.

The event will bring together leading experts including John Allan, Cathedral Archaeologist; Professor Ollie Creighton, Professor of Archaeology; Professor Sarah Hamilton, Professor of Medieval History; and Professor Levi Roach, Professor of Medieval History, from the University of Exeter.

And there is a very special opportunity for anyone fascinated by the Bayeux Tapestry itself. On Thursday 15 April 2027, RAMM will welcome Michael Lewis, Lead Curator of The British Museum’s Bayeux Tapestry exhibition, for an in-person talk exploring this extraordinary object and its enduring significance.

A tapestry returns and Exeter has a story to tell

The Bayeux Tapestry is on display at The British Museum until 11 July 2027, offering audiences across the UK a rare opportunity to experience this extraordinary medieval masterpiece.

But you don’t have to travel to London to explore the world of 1066. At RAMM, the tapestry’s story becomes Exeter’s story. Through coins, pottery, architecture, archaeology, craft and the voices of a new generation, visitors can discover how the events of 1066 reshaped the city - and how traces of that moment still survive beneath our feet today.

Nearly a thousand years after the Norman invasion, the story continues to be told. Come and discover the Exeter chapter.