Hertfordshire’s oldest surviving document is to travel to London this autumn. The county council has agreed to loan the Wheathampstead charter — a Saxon land grant signed in 1060 — to the British Museum for its forthcoming Bayeux Tapestry exhibition.
Why the charter matters
The parchment, held in the Hertfordshire Archives, records a grant by Edward the Confessor of land at Wheathampstead to a Westminster convent. It is one of the few documents from the period that names individuals who also appear as witnesses on the Bayeux Tapestry, making it directly relevant to the story the exhibition tells about mid-11th century England.
“The Wheathampstead Charter, written in Latin and Old English, was issued by Edward the Confessor in 1060. It is of particular interest to the exhibition as it names (as witnesses) several individuals that feature in the Bayeux Tapestry,” said Michael Lewis, curator of the Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition.
What visitors can expect
The Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition opens in September 2026 and runs until July 2027. For most people in Hertfordshire this will be the most likely opportunity to see the original county document in person: the charter is normally kept in the county archives and a facsimile is usually on view locally.
- Document: Wheathampstead Charter (issued 1060)
- Signatories include: Edward the Confessor, Queen Edith and Earl Harold (as witnesses)
- Loan confirmed by Hertfordshire County Council; highlighted by the council chairman at a meeting
Local and historical context
The charter is more than a legal record; it forms part of the material history connected to the foundation of Westminster Abbey. Such grants helped fund the building of the abbey in the years before the Norman Conquest. The presence of names that appear on the Bayeux Tapestry — including senior ecclesiastical and noble figures — links this local document to national events, including the lead-up to 1066.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Document | Wheathampstead Charter |
| Issued | 1060 |
| Exhibition | Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition, British Museum |
| Dates | September 2026 – July 2027 |
The county council has said it is pleased to make the document available for what it called a "once-in-a-generation" national exhibition, noting that thousands of visitors are expected to view the tapestry and related material. For residents who prefer to see Hertfordshire’s archival holdings locally, the council continues to display a copy of the charter in its archive service.
The loan underlines the role local archives play in telling national stories. For those with an interest in medieval England, the exhibition provides a rare chance to view documents and textiles that together illuminate the political and social world of the 11th century.
