Bayeux Tapestry mystery is SOLVED after 1,000 years: 220ft masterpiece was designed to entertain bored medieval monks at mealtimes, historian claims

Daily Mail (UK) ^ | December 15, 2025 | Jonathan Chadwick

[SunkenCiv]

Professor Benjamin Pohl, a historian at the University of Bristol, claims the masterpiece was hung on the walls at St Augustine's Abbey in Canterbury, Kent.

It was originally designed to provide mealtime reading for medieval monks at the abbey's new refectory, Professor Pohl claims.

'Just as today, in the Middle Ages mealtimes were always an important occasion for social gathering, collective reflection, hospitality and entertainment, and the celebration of communal identities,' he said.

'In this context, the Bayeux Tapestry would have found a perfect setting.'

While the Bayeux Tapestry is widely regarded as one of the world's most important cultural treasures, very little is known for certain about its origins.

However, St Augustine's Abbey is the 'Bayeux Tapestry's probable place of origin', where a 'team of highly skilled embroideresses' crafted it in the late 11th century – probably the 1080s, Professor Pohl now claims.

Next year, the Tapestry will go on display in the British Museum, marking the first time it has returned to the UK since it was made nearly 1,000 years ago.

[Salman]

Never realized there was a “mystery” about this work of art.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Yeah.... no.

[Red Badger]

Brother Lineus: Brother Aldred, what’s on the wall tonight?

Brother Aldred: Re-runs....................

[SunkenCiv]

Heh... I thought that would be obscure.

[dfwgator]

Nothing is obscure with me. ;)

[nwrep]

Watch the Rest is History with Holland and Sandbrook instead.

[MikelTackNailer]

the series “King & Conquerer” (Hastings 1066)...The one scene that made me take it out of my queue, was when they portrayed Edward the Confessor beating his mother to death. WTF??

Sir Jonathan of Cochrane presented a brilliant defense:
"If the gauntlet doth not fit thou must acquit!"

[madison10]

Ancient cereal box.

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

Must have gotten the idea from the aids blanket purpose.

[mass55th]

🤣👍👏

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Nice try, Prof. Pohl. But I ain't buying it. Better luck next time!

[Jonty30]

Only because smashed peas and baked beans hadn’t been invented yet.

[SunkenCiv]

Imagine how long it took the monks to make each roll of toilet tapestry.

[mairdie]

One of your greatest threads! Thanks for the laughter.

[yesthatjallen]

It’s not a tapestry. It’s an embroidery.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Sex and violence always sells. Even then. lol