The Glaven Valley Benefice Blakeney Area Historical Society
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Last month I included a last-minute reminder about our March meeting only to have the speaker fall ill and have to cry-off. We do hope Mr Morgan will soon recover his health and will be able to come and give his talk on wool and weaving at some future date. Meanwhile we were fortunate indeed to have Margaret Forester step into the breach with a fascinating and beautifully illustrated talk on the Bayeux Tapestry.

She concentrated on the tapestry’s origins and what it portrays or what modern scholars think it portrays, without expanding into its subsequent history and long survival against all odds. It seems to be a not very impartial account of historical events embroidered in wool on rough linen. Had it been a precious tapestry as it is commonly called or embroidered in the gold and silver threads that were used for religious or ceremonial objects, it would have been looted or destroyed at some time in its eventful 900 year life. Mrs Forester brought the work to life and made me a much better informed viewer when I go back to Bayeux to have another look, as I suspect many who heard her will. Perhaps Britany Ferries or Eurostar should pay her a commission.

As mentioned last month, on April 29th in the Harbour Room Mike Stammers will be talking about East Anglian shipping. This will be our last meeting until two important events in August: on Saturday 16th we will have our Annual Public Lecture in Blakeney Village Hall when Dr Rob Liddiard will talk about medieval parks and deer hunting and a week later in St Nicholas Church there will be a History Centre Open Day. It is because this event has been so popular in the last couple of years that it is moving, at the kind invitation of the Rector, into lovelier and more spacious surroundings. Do mark both Saturdays in your diaries.

FH

To view past [publications and future events of the Society, please visit their website at

http://www.history-blakeney-area.org.uk/