Free exhibition with a digital screening of the Bayeux Tapestry and 14 paintings by Robert Borlase Smart, part of the 'Bayeux Around Britain' programme.
The Box is bringing the Bayeux Tapestry to Plymouth from 13 February to 11 April 2027, as part of the nationwide Bayeux Around Britain programme. It's a digital screening of the 70-metre masterpiece, and it's the largest public showing of the work anywhere in the country. The tapestry tells the story of the 1066 conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy, and this version brings it to life through specially developed digital assets.
What makes this one a bit different is the pairing. For the first time, the tapestry is shown alongside 14 paintings by Westcountry artist Robert Borlase Smart (1881–1947). Smart served as a War Artist on the Western Front during the First World War and went on to become a founding member of the St Ives School. The exhibition runs during the European Year of the Normans, and the two halves of the show draw a line from the Battle of Hastings to the Battle of the Somme.
It's built around the biggest engagement space The Box has put together since it opened in September 2020. That means it's not just about looking: there are hands-on workshops, creative activities, and storytelling projects that feed into a community archive, all while the city looks ahead to the centenary of its city status in 2028.
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The exhibition is presented in partnership with the British Museum and supported by WorldQuant. It runs from 13 February to 11 April 2027 at The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth, PL4 8AX, and entry is free.
