Bayeux Tapestry latest: Work progressing towards a bid to the Department of Culture, Media
Representatives from English Heritage, Battle Abbey School and Battle Town Council joined Huw Merriman MP and visitor attraction and design industry experts this week (Tuesday 25 September) to discuss the next stages in the bid for Battle to become the temporary UK home for the Bayeux Tapestry.
The industry experts, who have previously worked on sporting and cultural projects, including the London Olympics, offered their insight and design proposals.
Work is now progressing towards a bid to the Department of Culture, Media and Support should, as expected, France be willing to lend the exhibit to the UK. Mr Merriman and Amber Rudd, MP for Hastings and Rye, have already written to the Prime Minister setting out the case for 1066 Country to win any bid to host the tapestry.
A spokesman for the Pevensey Bay Journal said “this bid, being so close to Pevensey has huge potential for the little village, which as many people know, has a proud place on the Bayeux Tapestry with our own panel.
“Advertising opportunities do not get much better than a near 1,000 year old billboard made by Kent weavers that promotes Pevensey”.
“Even if the Bayeux Tapestry does not come to Battle, this campaign will bring vital and most welcome publicity towards Pevensey as a unique visitor destination in Sussex. We will be seeing schools, families , educational visits people from across the country and from across Europe. People will be coming to either London or Sussex in the year to see the world famous Bayeux Tapestry, and what we need to do is to start planning for the arrival now.
“Now the historic Mint House in Pevensey is being restored and put back to economic life, there are some big opportunities here. For example, as seems likely, we may be seeing some start-up digital production companies bidding to become tenants at the Mint House. A savvy company seeing the opportunity to tell the story of the arrival of the Normans from the perspective of Pevensey, might also win a bid to tell the story.
“If as much as the mooted £20million is to be spent on the promotion by the Government in the lead up to the arrival of the Bayeux Tapestry, then Pevensey should be seeing a stake and we should be saying now that we are a stakeholder.
“We already have the campaign line to promote our bid, does what it says on the Tapestry….. Ad Pevenesae”
“With the Mint House restored, maybe little Pevensey is about to get on the history map of the country again big time.”
