Nearly £1m raised to bring tapestry to Bishop Auckland

February 7th 2024

Well-wishers and history enthusiasts worldwide, as well as businesses in the North East, have committed nearly £1m to a campaign to save for the nation a golden tapestry, owned by Henry VIII, and put it on display in Bishop Auckland. The campaign is led by The Auckland Project, the heritage regeneration charity, who intend to display the piece in the Faith Museum.

The Auckland Project have applied for a further £3.2m to the National Lottery Heritage Fund to complete the purchase, and will find out in March if funds will be granted. Their challenge was to raise £1m by March and the charity appear set to beat this target. Final donations are sought on the campaign page here: www.justgiving.com/campaign/tapestry

The tapestry was ordered at one of the most tumultuous times in our history, as Henry broke with Rome. It depicts the 'Burning of the Heathen Books' at Ephesus, when Christian converts destroyed their books of magic. The scene, richly woven in gold thread, is beautifully woven but troubling in its fervour and destruction. The tapestry was lost from the record books for around two centuries, before being discovered safe but unrecognised in Spain.

If acquired, the tapestry will be displayed at the Faith Museum in Bishop Auckland, alongside treasures reflecting 6,000 years of belief. The Faith Museum is part of the The Auckland Project's venues in Bishop Auckland, which together aim to celebrate Bishop Auckland's past and contribute to a bright future for the town.