This summer a complete recreation of the Bayeux Tapestry, handcrafted in three million tiny pieces, goes on display for visitors.

With the original Bayeux Tapestry due to travel to Britain in 2020, this is a unique opportunity to see the events of 1066 and the Norman conquest of England played out in exquisite mosaic form, two years before the world famous tapestry arrives.

The exhibition is at St Albans Cathedral until August 27 and entry to the exhibition is free.

Canon chancellor, Kevin Walton, says: “The Norman Conquest, told by the Bayeux tapestry, is very much part of the story of St Albans Cathedral, rebuilt by its first Norman abbot. We are therefore very pleased to be hosting this innovative exhibition, which is sure to generate a lot of interest.”

The 1066 Medieval Mosaic is the work of artist Michael Linton who, over the course of 33 years, designed and assembled the work using three million tiny pieces of steel left over from industrial textile manufacturing. The result of this labour of love is a 64 metre installation weighing approximately 350 kilograms. This display of skill and craftsmanship has earned itself a place in the Guinness World Record book as the longest steel mosaic.

Since historians have long since believed that the original is missing at least two panels, Michael added an eight metre section highlighting what might have been missing from the original.

To do so, he was joined by his daughter Rachael Linton to tell the stories from the end of the Battle of Hastings to the coronation of William the Conqueror on Christmas Day in 1066.

This add on section of the mosaic is the result of three years’ of research on all aspects of the period in order to achieve a truthful depiction of the events immediately after the Norman conquest. The result of these years of meticulous research is a seamless transition from Michael’s original Medieval Mosaic into the final panels.

Details at stalbanscathedral.org