Short course
The Bayeux Tapestry: An Early Medieval Masterpiece
Course status:
Course Full
Dates:
16/08/2026 - 22/08/2026
Study format:
Summer schools
Level:
Beginner
Fees:
From £1,660.00 to £2,380.00
The Bayeux Tapestry, a truly unique masterpiece, is in fact a woollen embroidery on a linen canvas. Over a length of almost 70 metres, it tells the story of the Battle of Hastings and the events leading up to the conflict, ostensibly from a Norman viewpoint.
Social and architectural historians and archaeologists have long regarded it as an invaluable source of evidence, portraying as it does, ships, cavalry and infantry soldiers, weaponry, clothing, castles, churches as well as a range of other buildings. The principal characters involved in the conflict between England and Normandy are depicted, as well as Saxons and Normans of various ranks, secular and church, involved in a range of military, political and ceremonial activities.
In this course we will examine the nature of the tapestry and discuss where, when, how and why it was made; and who was behind it. We will examine the story told by the tapestry against the probable historical reality of the events of 1066.
We will also look at the later history of the tapestry; how it survived the French Revolution and was used both by Napoleon and Hitler as propaganda.
The course includes a visit to Reading Museum, to view a life-size replica of the tapestry.
This course is part of The Oxford Experience summer school, held at Christ Church.
Join the waiting list
Programme details
Daily schedule
Seminars meet each weekday morning after breakfast.
After lunch, afternoons are free for individual study or exploring the many places of interest in and around the city. Optional plenary excursions and social activities including walking tours will also be available.
The course fee includes breakfasts Monday-Saturday (residential guests only), lunches Sunday-Friday, and three-course dinners Sunday-Thursday. All meals are taken in Christ Church’s spectacular dining hall.
On Friday, there will be a special four-course gala dinner to celebrate the closing of the week.
Seminars and field trip
Level and demands
The Oxford Experience is aimed at non-specialists: no prior knowledge is required, and classes are pitched at an introductory level. The courses are designed for an international audience aged 18 and over.
There are no assessments for this course.
Accommodation
During your course you can stay in typical Oxford student accommodation at Christ Church, in buildings which range from the 18th to the 20th century. Please note that bedrooms are modestly-furnished and do not have air-conditioning.
The course fee includes breakfasts Monday-Saturday (residential guests only), lunches Sunday-Friday, and three-course dinners Sunday-Thursday. On Friday, there will be a special four-course gala dinner to celebrate the closing of the week. All meals are taken in Christ Church’s spectacular dining hall.
Residential options are outlined below.
Please see the ‘application’ section above for guidance on how to book or request the right accommodation for you, including how to request a lower/ground floor room.
Accommodation options at Christ Church
Single, twin and double bedrooms are available.
We welcome participants who want to attend multiple courses over the summer. Resident participants staying in Christ Church for consecutive weeks will have bed and breakfast accommodation arranged for the Saturday night between their courses at no extra cost.
Non-residential option
We also offer places on a non-residential basis whereby participants can take classes and have lunch and dinner at Christ Church, having arranged their own accommodation elsewhere.
Accommodation before/after your course
We are unable to arrange accommodation at Christ Church prior to or following your course. Please contact Christ Church directly if you require additional nights of bed and breakfast accommodation, and they may be able to assist.
Additionally, family or friends who are not enrolled in the programme cannot be accommodated in college.
Location: Christ Church St. Aldates, Oxford, OX1 1DP
Programme details
Daily schedule
Seminars meet each weekday morning after breakfast.
After lunch, afternoons are free for individual study or exploring the many places of interest in and around the city. Optional plenary excursions and social activities including walking tours will also be available.
The course fee includes breakfasts Monday-Saturday (residential guests only), lunches Sunday-Friday, and three-course dinners Sunday-Thursday. All meals are taken in Christ Church’s spectacular dining hall.
On Friday, there will be a special four-course gala dinner to celebrate the closing of the week.
Seminars and field trip
Programme details
Daily schedule
Seminars meet each weekday morning after breakfast.
After lunch, afternoons are free for individual study or exploring the many places of interest in and around the city. Optional plenary excursions and social activities including walking tours will also be available.
The course fee includes breakfasts Monday-Saturday (residential guests only), lunches Sunday-Friday, and three-course dinners Sunday-Thursday. All meals are taken in Christ Church’s spectacular dining hall.
On Friday, there will be a special four-course gala dinner to celebrate the closing of the week.
Seminars and field trip
Monday seminars
The historical background to the Bayeux Tapestry: England and Normandy in 1066; the principal players, King Harold, Duke William of Normandy, and Bishop Odo of Bayeux.
How long and how wide? The pictorial narrative with its frieze and text depicts dogs, horses, men, weapons, tools, castles, buildings, landscapes and much else.
Tuesday seminars and field trip
The story told by the tapestry. How far does it reflect the historical reality of the Norman Conquest?
Was it a piece of Norman propaganda, a subversive message by dissident English men and women, or simply a morality tale?
Visit to Oxford Castle exterior.
Wednesday seminars
Where, who and why? Where was it made; who was responsible for its production and exactly why was it made? What contemporary sources were used for the myriad of images portrayed.
Thursday field trip
Field trip to Reading to view a replica of the tapestry in the Reading Museum and to visit the remains of Reading Abbey, founded by King Henry I in 1121.
We will return by way of Dorchester Abbey, where tea is served in the monastic guesthouse.
Friday seminars
The uses and abuses of the tapestry – its later history.
The political uses of the tapestry – Napoleon, Hitler, and Brexit!
Field trip
Destination: Reading Museum and Dorchester Abbey
Duration: All day
Excursion Rating: Easy – up to an hour’s walk on even ground or less than half an hour’s walk on uneven/unpaved ground.
Teaching methods
Participants will be taught in seminar groups of up to 12 people. The teaching methods used during this course may include:
- Short lectures/presentations
- Physical handouts
- Seminars/group discussions
- Tutor-led field trip
Trevor Rowley
Trevor Rowley MA, MLitt, FSA, was formerly Deputy Director in the Department for Continuing Education and before that Director of Archaeology in the Department. He is now an Emeritus Fellow of Kellogg College and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. He has published many books on landscape history and the Normans, most recently a biography of William the Conqueror’s half-brother, Bishop Odo of Bayeux, and an examination of the landscape of the Bayeux Tapestry. His most recent book, ‘Landscapes of the Norman Conquest’, appeared at the end of 2022.
Certification
Certificate of Attendance
At the end of the course you will receive a Certificate of Attendance.
Digital badge
You will also be issued with an official digital badge of attendance. After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download this. You will be able to share this on social media and add to your email signature if you wish to do so.
Accommodation
During your course you can stay in typical Oxford student accommodation at Christ Church, in buildings which range from the 18th to the 20th century. Please note that bedrooms are modestly-furnished and do not have air-conditioning.
The course fee includes breakfasts Monday-Saturday (residential guests only), lunches Sunday-Friday, and three-course dinners Sunday-Thursday. On Friday, there will be a special four-course gala dinner to celebrate the closing of the week. All meals are taken in Christ Church’s spectacular dining hall.
Residential options are outlined below.
Please see the ‘application’ section above for guidance on how to book or request the right accommodation for you, including how to request a lower/ground floor room.
Level and demands
The Oxford Experience is aimed at non-specialists: no prior knowledge is required, and classes are pitched at an introductory level. The courses are designed for an international audience aged 18 and over.
There are no assessments for this course.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Fee option 1 (single en suite accom and meals per person) | £2380.00 |
| Fee option 2 (single standard accom and meals per person) | £2270.00 |
| Fee option 3 (double en suite accom and meals per person) | £2260.00 |
| Fee option 4 (twin en suite accom and meals per person) | £2260.00 |
| Fee option 5 (twin set standard accom and meals per person) | £2260.00 |
| Fee option 6 (no accom; incl lunch and dinner per person) | £1660.00 |
Enrolment deadline: registration closes at midnight on 1 May 2026.
Most courses fill quickly so early registration is strongly recommended. If your preferred course is fully booked, you may wish to add yourself to the waiting list and the Programme Administrator will contact you should a place become available.
Please note, the programme is only open to those over the age of 18.
Online enrolment (single person accommodation and non-residential)
Single accommodation and non-residential places should be booked online by clicking on the ‘Book now’ button at the top of this page.
Online enrolments require payment in full at the time of registering.
Single bedroom options:
-
Single en suite (private bathroom facilities – shower, washbasin and toilet)
-
Single standard rooms (includes a washbasin and shaver point only, with bathroom facilities shared with other rooms)
Enrolment form (multi-occupancy or accessible accommodation)
Double and twin bedrooms
Double and twin bedrooms are only available for two participants that apply to the programme together. They are charged per person and cannot be booked by individuals. If you wish to book a twin or double room for two people, each person should complete an enrolment form.
Shared bedroom options:
- Double en suite (private bathroom facilities – shower, washbasin and toilet)
- Twin en suite (private bathroom facilities – shower, washbasin and toilet)
- ‘Twin set’ standard (comprising two separate single standard rooms, each with a washbasin and shaver point only, opening onto a private sitting room, with bathroom facilities shared with other rooms)
Ground/lower floor accommodation
Christ Church rooms do not have lift access, and the higher rooms can be located up a few flights of stairs. If you need a room on a ground or lower floor please complete an enrolment form indicate your requirements, or contact the programme administrator directly at oxfordexperience@conted.ox.ac.uk as soon as possible before 1 June 2026.
Enrolment form
The enrolment form is an editable PDF and can be competed electronically, so you should not need to print and scan it.
Completed forms should be sent:
-
by email to oxfordexperience@conted.ox.ac.uk, or
-
by post to The Oxford Experience, Oxford Lifelong Learning, University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education, 1 Wellington Square, OXFORD, OX1 2JA, UK.