A petition filed to block the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry from France to the UK is now signed by over 50,000 people.
The Bayeux Tapestry is an 11th-century piece of cloth that narrates the Norman conquest of William the Conqueror to win England. The 230-foot-long embroidered linen is housed at the Bayeux Museum in Normandy, France. Starting September 1st, the museum will close for two years for renovation.
It is perhaps for this reason that the French President Emmanuel Macron announced his decision to loan the work to the British Museum in the UK. The tapestry would be on display at its new home from September 2026 to July 2027, when it would finally return to the Bayeux Museum.
However, the decision was quickly met by concerns and criticism. Textile restorers have pointed at the fragile state of the cloth, which is almost a millennium old. They pointed out that the previous movement of the cloth had already caused much damage to it. Since post-WWII, the cloth has also been subject to almost constant lighting while on display at the museum. It is currently only suspended on a rail with rollers, which places tension on the fabric.
The strongest push back comes from French art historian Didier Ryker, who launched a petition in July to block the loan. So far, the petition has found more than 50,000 signatories. Ryker previously launched a similar petition to stop the installation of contemporary stained glass at Notre Dame during renovation. While that petition failed to succeed, the latest petition is backed by genuine concerns from experts. Even in the UK, concerns have been raised over the loan.
