Bayeux Tapestry Series

Given the historic loan of this amazing embroidery to the British Museum in 2026-7, I thought it a good time to draw together an album for the Wentworth jigsaws.

In Michael Foster's collection of Wentworth catalogues are two pages of titles, marked '1997-8 French Issue', including four panels of the Bayeux Tapestry.
FR126 Bayeux Tapestry, The Norman Ships
FR127 Bayeux Tapestry, The Norman Cavalry
FR128 Bayeux Tapestry, Battle of Hastings
FR129 Bayeux Tapestry, Battle, The Death of King Harold.
We don't know if these were available before this date, or how long they were made for a French heritage outlet - presumably in Bayeux.

The second photo shows an extract from Wentworth's Whimsy29 in Spring 2005, when the sizes available were in the process of being rationalised (larger sizes 500pc, 750pc plus 1000pc, 1400pc & 1800pc).

I have seen FR126 The Norman Ships, in sizes 140pc and 250pc, and in two box styles - the green, shiny multi-lingual packs with flags across the bottom, and in red (A Collector's Wooden Jigsaw) or green (A Wentworth Wooden Jigsaw).

Another mysterious 235pc jigsaw, a Clueless puzzle also from the green box era, shows the scene of Harold hawking in Normandy during his stay with Duke William in 1065, repeated four times. Perhaps this was a personal puzzle or even a prototype. The same scene was used for a small 75pc jigsaw.