The Bacton Altar Cloth

A richly embroidered altar cloth, preserved for centuries in a small rural church in Bacton, Herefordshire, has recently been identified by experts as a piece of a sixteenth century dress, which may even have belonged to Queen Elizabeth I herself. Rumoured for centuries to be connected to the Tudor Queen via her servant, Blanche Parry, the story of this remarkable object is uncovered in a new book, from Historic Royal Palaces Joint Chief Curator Tracy Borman: ‘The Private Lives of the Tudors.’

Come and see the Altar Cloth in our new exhibition The Lost Dress of Elizabeth I from 12 October at Hampton Court Palace: www.hrp.org.uk/TheLostDress

Conservation of the Bacton Altar Cloth has been generously supported by: The Leche Trust; Lord Barnby's Foundation; The Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers; and, The Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers alias Wire Workers.