Archaeologists Find Lost Residence Depicted on Bayeux Tapestry

On the famed Bayeux Tapestry, Harold, the Anglo-Saxon king, is depicted at his home in Bosham, England, on multiple occasions. After years of searching for its exact location, archaeologists have finally determined where the medieval residence once stood.

Embroidered in the 11th century, the sprawling Bayeux Tapestry tells the story of the Norman Conquest of England. In 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson, the last of the Anglo-Saxon kings. The conquest culminated at the Battle of Hastings—but the Bayeux Tapestry also depicts the events leading up to William’s victory.

Before the battle, King Harold is depicted twice at his home in Bosham on the West Sussex coast of England. First, he enjoys an extravagant feast before departing for Normandy. Later, he is shown returning home. The exact location of Harold’s residence at Bosham has long been debated. The most popular theory suggests that Bosham Manor House, a private home in the village, now stands on the site.

Medieval Latrine Proves Location of Bayeux Tapestry Site

At Bosham Manor House, archaeologists recently assessed standing remains and conducted a geophysical survey of the surrounding area. They also pored through old maps and records and re-examined evidence from a 2006 excavation of the area. The team confirmed the existence of two previously unidentified medieval buildings—one in the garden and another integrated into the current structure.

In recent years, archaeologists in England identified a trend wherein high-status homes began integrating toilets during the 10th century. The presence of a 1,000-year-old latrine at Bosham Manor House, first noted in 2006, confirmed the elite status of the medieval timber building that once stood on the site. As such, the building most likely belonged to King Harold’s residential complex, as depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry.

“The realization that in 2006, excavations had found, in effect, an Anglo-Saxon ensuite confirmed to us that this house sits on the site of an elite residence pre-dating the Norman Conquest,” said Duncan Wright, leader of the study and Senior Lecturer in Medieval Archaeology at Newcastle University, in a statement.

Professor Oliver Creighton of the University of Exeter, and co-leader of the Bayeux Tapestry excavation project, said, “The Norman Conquest saw a new ruling class supplant an English aristocracy that has left little in the way of physical remains, which makes the discovery at Bosham hugely significant—we have found an Anglo-Saxon show-home.”

The Bayeux Tapestry research at Bosham is part of a wider project titled “Where Power Lies.” Led by a team from Newcastle University and the University of Exeter, the project investigates the origins and early development of aristocratic power centers, like King Harold’s residential complex at Bosham, across England. In many cases, the project is assessing archaeological evidence for these sites for the first time.