Reading - Britain's Bayeux Tapestry

On Saturday I fulfilled a long held ambition, and went on a trip to Reading Museum.

Why Reading Museum you ask? I see the full sized replica of the Bayeux Tapestry. The story of how the replica came to be made is great fun: https://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/history-britains-bayeux-tapestry , and is crying out for a film treatment of some kind...

It has bustles, Victorian business acumen, and censorship (and Staffordshire accents which Isn't very Hollywood I guess).

The chaps at the British Museum who supplied the photos to the lady embroiderers turned the horses into geldings, and gave various nude men little shorts.

Unlike the the original, you have plenty of time to linger, and enjoy all the little details....

...so many lovely little critters...

...and as a friend pointed out, one of the earliest depictions of mobile 'phone use :-)

The museum also houses some nice Roman bits and pieces, included this lovely world, weary bronze eagle from Silchester. It's said to be the inspiration for Rosemary Sutcliff's book ' The Eagle of the Ninth'. A book I adored.

There's a gallery about Huntley and Palmer, formerly a big local employer.

I do love a local museum....

Comments

Abbaye Sainte-Marie-de-la-Pierre-qui-Vire

Deep in the woods… …you can find a magnificent… …Benedictine Abbey, which you may have heard of, as they make very good cheese. Although the place dates from the last century, there is an atmosphere of deep calm and tranquility. Deeper into the woods… …there is a hidden delight… …a little glade… …with a statue of the Virgin Mary. It is an extraordinary place.

Église st Jean Baptiste - Moulins-Engilbert

For a small, sleepy place…Moulins-Engilbert… …has a very large church. It is… …rather… …lovely… …with lots to see… …beautiful… …carving… …and lovely old wooden pews. And as well… …as these lovely faces… …there are… …some glorious statues in the crypt. However, what most spoke to me was the war memorial… …including my hostˋs grandfather.

Corbigny past and present

Itˋs still too damn hot, but I managed a trip out to Corbigny, where there is a lovely toy shop… …interesting mediaeval bits and pieces… …fun shop signs… …a great place to drink coffee and watch the world go by… …suitably mad French cars… …and baffling street furniture… …and a chilling reminder that not that long ago, people like you and me were taken away and annihilated. Remember them, never forget, never again.

Traves Tangents

Search This Blog