10 Years of The Great Tapestry of Scotland
On Tuesday 3rd September 2013, the Great Tapestry of Scotland was unveiled for the first time.
Join us across the weekend of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd September for an exciting weekend of activities to celebrate this exciting anniversary!
It was the author, Alexander McCall Smith, who came up with the idea of the Great Tapestry of Scotland. Following a visit to the Prestonpans Tapestry, which depicts the events before, during and after the Battle of Prestonpans on 21 September 1745, where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite forces triumphed over the Hanoverian Army led by Sir John Cope, he was inspired to develop something similar. A piece of artwork looking at the entire history of Scotland.
He contacted with the artist behind the Prestonpans Tapestry, Andrew Crummy, and Alistair Moffat, who wrote the narrative behind the Great Tapestry of Scotland. Finally, he recruited Dorie Wilkie, the Head Stitcher of the project and also the Head Stitcher of the Battle of Prestonpans Tapestry.
A team of 1000 stitchers then came together from across Scotland, and 50,000 stitching hours – and 300 miles of wool – later the Great Tapestry of Scotland was complete.
Panel 1 of the Tapestry was taken to the Scottish Parliament where the very first stitch was sewn by the then Presiding Officer, Tricia Marwick, in September 2012.
In September 2013, the whole Tapestry returned to Parliament and, during the day of the 2nd September, the Tapestry was hung in its entirety for the very first time.
Weaving is way around the Main Hall of The Scottish Parliament was the story of Scotland, made by the people of Scotland. Stretching for 143 meters, the Great Tapestry of Scotland was on public display for the first time.
Now, 10 years later, in its purpose built permanent home in Galashiels, we are excited to have a weekend of events to celebrate 10 years since The Great Tapestry of Scotland first went on display!
This time lapse video shows the Parliament team hanging all 160 panels.
Friday 1st September
Following a visit to the Tapestry by Their Majesties, King Charles III and Queen Camilla, we will be unveiling the specially designed panel that was created to commemorate their visit.
Designed by Andrew Crummy, the artist behind the Tapestry, and stitched Dorie Wilkie, the Head Stitcher of the project, this panel has been designed to reflect The King and Queen’s greatest interests in life including nature, wildflowers, The King’s own book, The Old Man Lochnagar and The Queen’s Jack Russells Beth and Bluebell.
During their visit, Her Majesty, Queen Camilla added the final stitch to this panel, which following framing and conservation work, will now hang on permanent display, in the Great Tapestry of Scotland Centre.
Saturday 2nd September
Over the weekend of Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd September we are delighted to offer 10% off tickets bought on the day, to celebrate 10 years of the Great Tapestry of Scotland.
On Saturday 2nd September we will be working alongside Doors Open Days to host a special event, allowing you to discover the Stitcher’s Stories. During the creation of the tapestries, the stitching groups involved were encouraged to keep diaries detailing their real, lived experiences of the creation of one of the most ambitious community projects ever undertaken in Scotland. This event is now fully booked.
This event is part of Doors Open Days, which takes place every September throughout Scotland and is part of European Heritage Days. Information about the national programme can be found at www.doorsopendays.org.uk
Sunday 3rd September
Over the weekend of Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd September we are delighted to offer 10% off tickets bought on the day, to celebrate 10 years of the Great Tapestry of Scotland.
We will be joined by the Coat of Hopes for a series of events and workshops thought the day. The Coat of Hopes is a patchwork coat, made, worn and walked by hundreds of people over hundreds of miles from Newhaven on the south coast of England to Glasgow.
The Coat of Hopes will arrive into the Tapestry and from 11am you will have the opportunity to add your patch to the Coat.
At 3pm a specially made film will be shown, “Of Walking on Thin Ice”, an art documentary made with great dedication on a hand crank Bolex cine camera. It tells the story of the walk between London and Glasgow for COP26. More information about the film can be found on the Of Walking on Thin Ice website.
This event is free to attend but with limited space. Spaces can be booked by emailing tapestry@liveborders.org.uk
