World-famous tapestry could be swapping Bayeux for Britain

Academics and MPS thrilled at chance to examine artefact at close quarters

Theresa May has welcomed plans for the Bayeux Tapestry to come to the UK as “very significant”.

The Prime Minister said it was important that “the maximum number of people” will be able to see the work depicting the Battle of Hastings.

Mrs May will discuss loaning the tapestry to the UK when she meets French President Emmanuel Macron today.

At the moment it is on display in a darkened room in the Bayeux Museum in Normandy.

However, it could take five years before it reaches British shores.

The tapestry will not travel before 2020 because of the need for restoration work to ensure it is not damaged in transit, an official in Mr Macron’s office told reporters in France.

“This loan is under consideration, because there will be several months of restoration work at the Museum of Bayeux,” said the official.

“It will not be before 2020 because it is an extremely fragile cultural treasure which will be subject to major restoration work before being transported anywhere.”

The British Museum would be “honoured and delighted” to display the tapestry if it comes to the UK, its director has said. Hartwig Fischer said: “This would be a major loan, probably the most significant ever from France to the UK.

“It is a gesture of extraordinary generosity and proof of the deep ties that link our countries.

“The Bayeux Tapestry is of huge importance, as it recounts a crucial moment in British and French history, 1066.”

Mrs May said: “It is very significant that the Bayeux Tapestry is going to be coming to the United Kingdom and that people are going to be able to see this.”

Acknowledging the rival claims to host the tapestry she said: “I am sure we will be looking very carefully to ensure that the maximum number of people can take the benefit of seeing this tapestry.”

If it returns to the UK, medieval historians would finally have the chance to study the back of the work.

It is believed that the famous arrow-inthe-eye scene allegedly depicting the death of the English King Harold was actually added in Victorian times.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday, scholar Maggie Kneen said until now, scholars have only been provided with footage and photographs of the other side of the piece.

Ms Kneen said: “From what I believe, the actual arrow was a Victorian addition.”

“Really, to see the back of it rather than a CD of images would be tremendous for scholars.”

AP. Picture: Visitors looking at a section from the Bayeux Tapestry. French officials are considering lending the historic 70m-long artefact to Britain for the first time.