The Hastings Embroidery was commissioned by Group Captain Ralph Ward and made by the Royal School of Needlework in 1965 to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings the following year.
Intended to be a modern-day equivalent of the Bayeux Tapestry, the embroidery consists of 27 panels, each , and shows 81 great events in British history during the 900 years from 1066 to 1966. It took 22 embroiderers 10 months to finish.
The Embroidery is worked in appliqué by hand, with the addition of couched threads and cords, tweed from Scotland, fabrics from the Victoria and Albert Museum, and feathers from London Zoo. The exhibition was accompanied by an immersive media installation by Tim Hopkins and newly commissioned music piece entitled Stitched by Robert Thomas.