Creating a facsimile of the Bayeux Tapestry was a bold endeavour on the part of Elizabeth Wardle. Although there are no documents that tell us why she took on this monumental task, she did leave clues as to her intention. It was a project that on the surface appeared to be very different to those usually undertaken by the Leek Embroidery Society, as discussed in Chapters 2 and 4. It is only when we consider several different factors, however, that we can appreciate that the task was not too far removed from what she was already doing. Contextual evidence presented here for the first time helps us understand the relevance of the facsimile to other demanding projects that she completed during her life.

By the time that she had tied herself publicly to such a famous work Elizabeth Wardle was an established embroiderer who had completed a number of high-profile commissions, and was widely acknowledged as a significant woman across a range of artistic movements. The facsimile was certainly much more than a vanity project or a publicity stunt, as the huge costs, the massive investment in time for many people and the immense organisation involved suggest a more serious intent.

The Bayeux Tapestry, now exhibited in a purpose-built display in Normandy, France, is a work of embroidery that illustrates the significant events that took place between 1064 and 1066. Through the use of stitched images it depicts the events of 29 September 1066 when William, duke of Normandy, landed in England and won the Battle of Hastings. Still considered to be one of the most famous dates in British history, 1066 was the year that William the Conqueror, at the height of his power, brought England under his control. After he had seized the English throne he started to restructure the country, forming a French-speaking court to rule over the Anglo-Saxon population. This reshaped the political map of England. Under his rule England became firmly Norman, with consequent seismic changes. ‘The Norman Yoke’, as this became known, was something that concerned William Morris and a great many others.