Volunteers wanted to stitch Jersey Bayeux Tapestry

Volunteers are wanted to take part in a community project to create a Jersey version of the Bayeux Tapestry.

The Jersey Version would be 7m (22.96 ft) long in total, compared to the original in France which is 70m (229.65 ft) long and was created during the 11th Century to tell the story of William's conquest of England.

Jersey Heritage said they were launching the project as part of celebrations for the 2027 Year of the Normans to mark the 1,000th anniversary of the birth of William the Conqueror.

William became Duke of Normandy in 1035 and the Channel Islands were part of the Duchy when he won the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and seized the throne as King William I of England.

When Norman territories were lost to France in 1204 during the reign of King John, the islands swore allegiance to the English Crown and were rewarded with a high level of independence.

As a result, strong connections between the islands and Normandy have continued into the modern period.

Melissa Rodrigues, Jersey Heritage outreach curator and leader of the project, said: "We hope it brings together people from across Jersey to connect with our medieval history."

Jersey Heritage said people taking part would be asked to learn the medieval stitches that were used to create the Bayeux Tapestry and then use them during workshops to complete the Jersey panels.

The original Bayeux Tapestry is set to return to the UK after more than 900 years on loan due to a historic agreement to be signed between the French and British governments.

It is due to be on display at the British Museum in London from September to July 2027 while its current home, the Bayeux Museum, is being renovated.

Rodrigues added: "Any level of stitching skill is welcome, from those who are accomplished to people who have never stitched before but would like to learn something new."

Two expert embroiderers from Bayeux are set to visit Jersey in April to demonstrate and share knowledge.

The Jersey tapestry, supported by the Government of Jersey creative island partnership, would be made up of nine panels, the same as the original.

Each panel would measure 61cm (2ft) by 80cm (2.62ft) and overall it would measure 7m (22.96 ft) total.

The borders of each panel are due to feature mythical creatures designed by primary schoolchildren and stitched by pupils from secondary schools.

Jersey Heritage said the Jersey tapestry would closely replicate the style of the original work using wool and linen and would eventually go on display at Jersey Museum.

The stories on the panels, which feature Jersey's native language of Jèrriais, were researched and initially drawn by Vic Tanner Davy, Jersey Heritage's Head of Programmes, with help from historian Jean Treleven.

The panels were then designed and coloured by local artist Jo Preston.

Jersey Heritage said stories of women were central to the Jersey interpretation, including Emma of Normandy, Eleanor and Margaret of Provence, and everyday women living in Jersey from 933-1259.

Davy said: "While researching the Bayeux Tapestry, we discovered that it features only three women in the whole 70m.

"Where were the women in 1066? What were they doing while their men were immortalised in cloth?

"We hope our Jersey version will strengthen our understanding of the role played by women in Jersey's medieval heritage while also sharing the significance to the island of the events of 1066."

In 2013 a team of embroiderers in Alderney completed worked on their version of the Bayeux Tapestry ending.

When the original was "rediscovered" by scholars in the 18th Century, historians believed the final segment had been lost so 418 people were involved in making their own version.

It was the same height as the original and 3m (10ft) long, with four panels showing events following the Battle of Hastings, culminating in William's coronation.

It was on display at Bayeux Museum during July and August 2014.

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