It had been believed that the tapestry, which showcases 1,000 years of local history over 10 panels, would go on permanent display at Castle Cornet this summer, after leaving St James where it had been on display since 2002.
However, Ian Hunter, chairman of the tapestry trustees, was not hopeful the tapestry would be seen anytime soon.
‘I am bitterly disappointed we are in this situation,’ he said.
‘The community worked together to produce the tapestry 25 years ago, and they worked as a community to display it. For various reasons we couldn’t continue in St James, and we were under the impression that the States were equally as keen as we were to put it on display.
‘However, it’s apparent that the States don’t have the same enthusiasm for the tapestry as the community who actually created it.’
It was announced in April 2024 that the tapestry, handmade by more than 200 local artisans at the turn of the century and took almost three years to complete, would be transferred to Castle Cornet.
Then in June that year it was revealed that its home would be the Hatton Gallery in the Upper Barracks and it was expected to be on display when the castle opened for the 2025 season.
‘We handed the tapestry over to the States last year to ensure the conservation and preservation of the tapestry and its promotion,’ said Mr Hunter. ‘And we were told it would be placed in storage pending a suitable gallery at Castle Cornet and this was expected to open by August this year.
‘I don’t have the slightest qualms about its care in storage. What worries me is that once something is in storage, it is very difficult to get it out again.’
Mr Hunter said he was due to have a meeting with senior staff at States Heritage Services today to try to find a way forward.
‘I understand that there are some structural issues with the room suggested at the Castle that weren’t apparent at the time,’ he said. ‘I haven’t really been kept informed and am not sure what they will now suggest.’
A spokesman for the States said it was ‘still exploring a range of options to find the most suitable home for the tapestry’.
Local tour guide Gill Girard has also bemoaned the tapestry’s disappearance.
‘If we are trying to attract more visitors, we need as many attractions as possible and this in my opinion was one of our best,’ she said. ‘Ten panels of beautiful stitching depicting 1,000 years of our fascinating and colourful history.’
You need to be logged in to comment. If you had an account on our previous site, you can migrate your old account and comment profile to this site by visiting this page and entering the email address for your old account. We'll then send you an email with a link to follow to complete the process.