Prestonpans Tapestry facts for kids
The Battle of Prestonpans Tapestry 1745, often called the Prestonpans Tapestry, is a huge embroidery. It was made in 2010 in Prestonpans, Scotland. This artwork shows the story of the Battle of Prestonpans. This battle happened on September 21, 1745. In it, Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite army won against the Hanoverian Army. That army was led by Sir John Cope. The tapestry's design and size were inspired by the famous Bayeux Tapestry.
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What is the Prestonpans Tapestry?
The Prestonpans Tapestry is an embroidered cloth. It is not a woven tapestry, just like the Bayeux Tapestry. More than 200 people worked together to create this amazing artwork. They spent two years stitching it. Many of these embroiderers lived in Scotland. Some even came from places where Bonnie Prince Charlie marched. Others had family ties and came from far away, like the US, Australia, and New Zealand.
The completed tapestry is very long. It measures about 104 meters (341 feet). It is made up of 103 separate panels. Each panel is one meter long and 500mm (about 20 inches) high. This makes it about 30 meters (98 feet) longer than the Bayeux Tapestry.
How the Tapestry Was Made
The idea for the Prestonpans Tapestry came from several people. These included the Prestoungrange Arts Festival and the Battle of Prestonpans 1745 Heritage Trust. Dr. Gordon Prestoungrange, who led the Trust, also had a big role. The main designer was Dr. Andrew Crummy. Experts in history and architecture helped with advice. Dorie Wilkie was in charge of all the embroiderers.
The finished tapestry was first shown on July 26, 2010. A special gathering of 500 embroiderers and their friends saw it. This event took place near the Prestonpans battlefield itself.
Where the Tapestry Has Been Shown
Since it was created, the tapestry has traveled a lot. It has been shown across Scotland. It has also visited England and France. In its first two years, over 150,000 people came to see it.
Some places it has been displayed include the Scottish Parliament. It was also shown at the Scottish Storytelling Centre and St. Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh. These showings happened during the Edinburgh Festival. The tapestry also went to Alexandra Palace in London. In France, it was shown in Pornichet, near St Nazaire. This is where Bonnie Prince Charlie started his journey in 1745.
In 2013, the tapestry was invited to Bayeux, France. This was a special moment, as the Bayeux Tapestry was its inspiration. Exhibitions have continued across Scotland. In 2017, it was again displayed at the Scottish Parliament. Then, in August, it was part of the Festival Interceltique in Lorient, Brittany. By then, over 500,000 people had seen the artwork.
The Battle of Prestonpans 1745 Heritage Trust hopes to find a permanent home for the tapestry soon. This new home would also be a "living history center." It would tell the story of the battle and be a starting point for a Jacobite Trail.
Other Tapestries Inspired by Prestonpans
The Prestonpans Tapestry inspired other big art projects. After seeing it, author Alexander McCall Smith asked for the Great Tapestry of Scotland to be made. This tapestry was designed by historian Alistair Moffat and artist Andrew Crummy. About 1000 stitchers from all over Scotland helped create it. It tells the story of Scotland from ancient times to today. When it was finished, it was the longest tapestry in the world. It was first shown at the Scottish Parliament in 2013.
More recently, the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry was created. The Prestoungrange Arts Festival led this project. Dr. Gordon Prestoungrange led a team around the world. They embroidered stories from 34 countries where Scots have settled. Andrew Crummy was again the designer. This tapestry was shown during the 2014 Year of Homecoming in Scotland. It toured in Scotland, England, Norway, the Netherlands, Italy, and France. Later, it went to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the US, and Iceland. It is planned to find a permanent home in Prestonpans, alongside the Prestonpans Tapestry.
