Millennium Tapestry to be re-homed at Castle Cornet

After years of uncertainty, an agreement has been reached for it to move to Castle Cornet from next year.

Trustees of the tapestry, which showcases 1,000 years of local history, feared having to close its doors or send the 10 panels off the island when its current host, St James, said it wanted to use the space for other purposes and no alternative venue could be found.

‘We were very concerned. We were having to think of some quite dramatic options,’ said Ian Hunter, chairman of the trustees.

‘One option was to sell or pass on the tapestry to France, where there are a number of museums which would have housed it.

‘The one thing we were desperate to avoid was putting the tapestry in storage because we thought it would then never come out again.

‘That thought was seriously concerning us.’

As the trustees faced up to the prospect of closing in Guernsey, an informal meeting with a small group of politicians gave them a glimmer of hope of saving the tapestry for locals and visitors.

The politicians encouraged officials at the States’ property unit to find a solution. Mr Hunter said they had been ‘amazing and worked their socks off’, as had senior staff at the museums service, which runs Castle Cornet.

‘I am so glad that the Guernsey Tapestry has found a home which is more suited to its unique needs,’ said one of the politicians, Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq.

‘The tapestry is far more than a tourist attraction, although it is certainly that and needs to be easily accessible as such.

‘Like its inspiration, the Bayeux Tapestry, it not only marks a significant event in our common history, it also brought together a whole range of Guernsey folk and tells our story for the benefit of future generations.’

The tapestry re-opens today for the 2024 season, during which it will remain at St James, opening between 9.30am and 3pm Monday to Friday.

In the autumn it will close and move to Castle Cornet as its new permanent home. ‘This is the best possible outcome we could have hoped for. We are very excited.' Mr Hunter said.

‘We think the tapestry and the Castle will benefit.

‘This secures the future of the tapestry and will allow many tens of thousands more people to pay a visit every year.'

The tapestry’s exact location at the Castle remains uncertain.

There are two possible rooms. Mr Hunter said a final decision should be made ‘in the next few weeks’.

In 1999, the States agreed to make the tapestry an official Millennium project.

It was stitched by about 215 regulars over more than two years. In addition, everyone in the islands had an opportunity to add a stitch.