History's most famous tapestry may have been viewed in unusual setting, new research suggests

New humanities probe is challenging centuries of assumptions astir wherefore the Bayeux Tapestry — 1 of the astir iconic pieces of medieval creation — was created.

The tapestry vividly depicts the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings — and is wide believed to day to the 1070s.

The scenes amusement however the Normans invaded England from France and seized powerfulness from the Anglo-Saxons, each culminating successful the decease of Harold Godwinson astatine Hastings.

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Scholars person traditionally believed that the Bayeux Tapestry was meant to beryllium hung wrong the nave of Bayeux Cathedral, which was built successful 1077 — but caller probe suggests it was meant for monks' mealtime viewing instead.

Benjamin Pohl, a medieval past prof astatine the University of Bristol, published his probe successful the diary Historical Research connected Dec. 12.

New probe suggests the Bayeux Tapestry whitethorn person been designed for monastic eating halls alternatively than cathedral display. (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images; Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images)

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Pohl said helium believes the tapestry was designed specifically for the monastic refectory of St. Augustine's Abbey successful Canterbury.

Pohl's probe suggests the masterpiece "only came to Bayeux successful the 15th century, much by mishap than by design."

"From a applicable perspective, a cathedral nave does not connection a peculiarly suitable abstraction for hanging an embroidery of this magnitude and value successful specified a mode that its contents tin beryllium seen and understood easily," helium said.

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On the different hand, helium said a monastic refectory would person been "a overmuch better-suited space, 1 successful which the artifact could person been suspended easy astatine caput tallness truthful that its images and substance could beryllium appreciated astir effectively."

The adept besides noted that the Bayeux Tapestry's substance is written successful a peculiar benignant of Latin — 1 that helium says "matches the divers levels of literacy recovered successful a medieval monastery."

The Bayeux Tapestry depicts the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings, culminating successful the decease of Harold Godwinson. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

"The Bayeux Tapestry's communicative tin beryllium interpreted arsenic a motivation communicative successful keeping with the kinds of texts monks were contemplating regularly during mealtimes," helium said.

"The surviving grounds we have… indicates that the refectory walls of St Augustine's would person been ample capable to bent the Bayeux Tapestry successful its entirety, astir apt covering astir of its 4 interior walls," added Pohl.

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But if anyone is imagining medieval monks toasting mugs of brew and enjoying a royal feast portion viewing the tapestry — they would beryllium mistaken.

Instead, the artwork was astir apt viewed successful silence, Pohl said — portion the monks ate plain and elemental food, similar airy beer, bread, food and a uncommon serving of meat.

The embroidery's motivation communicative aligns with spiritual texts traditionally work during monastic meals. (Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images)

"Following the regularisation of St. Benedict, which governed monastic beingness crossed overmuch of medieval Europe, medieval monks were expected to support implicit soundlessness portion eating, speech from the dependable of the scholar delivering the day’s text," helium said.

Pohl added, "These readings delivered motivation acquisition to the diners, successful a mounting wherever immoderate ocular imagery would person reinforced spoken words and offered a absorption for contemplation."

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If Pohl's mentation proves correct, it would mean the refectory of St. Augustine's was meant to beryllium built successful the 1080s — and the Bayeux Tapestry whitethorn person been "kept successful a container and was possibly forgotten about" earlier the refectory was finished successful 1120.

The latest probe comes aft the medieval masterpiece made respective headlines successful 2025.

"[N]obody could person foreseen that it would instrumentality astir 50 years for the refectory to beryllium completed, truthful the program mightiness good person been to lone support it successful retention for a fewer years," the prof added. 

"But the monolithic hold whitethorn person extended this retention play for astir 2 generations."

"From a applicable perspective, a cathedral nave does not connection a peculiarly suitable abstraction for hanging an embroidery of this magnitude and value successful specified a way," said an expert.  (Loic Venance/AFP via Getty Images)

The latest probe comes aft the medieval masterpiece made respective headlines successful 2025.

In July, officials announced that the Bayeux Tapestry would beryllium shown successful the British Museum from Sept. 2026 to July 2027 — the archetypal clip it volition transverse the English Channel successful centuries.

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Earlier successful 2025, Newcastle University announced the find of Harold Godwinson's residence successful Bosham, a tract that was depicted successful the tapestry.