Located within an especially-designed visitor centre on the High Street in Galashiels (Scottish Borders), the Great Tapestry of Scotland represents one of the world's largest community arts projects, created between 2012 and 2013 involving 50,000 sewing hours contributed by 1000 enthusiastic individuals drawn from across Scotland and co-ordinated by notable embroiderer Dorie Wilkie. The idea for tapestry came from author Alexander McCall Smith (b. 1948) and it was designed by artist Andrew Crummy (b. 1959). Drawing inspiration from the 70-metre-long Bayeux Tapestry, the Great Tapestry of Scotland is 143m (469 feet) in length and comprises 160 panels, charting Scotland's history, culture, heritage and innovation. More than 300 miles (482 km) of wool was hand-sewn into a background of linen. Scenes include key events, notable places and people (such as the Battle of Bannockburn, the Clydebank Blitz, the New Town of Cumbernauld, the return of the Scottish Parliament, Fair Isle, Sir Walter Scott, John Muir and James Clerk Maxwell). It also commemorates ordinary people, including Paisley millworkers, Newhaven fish-wives and Shetland knitters, cultural icons such as the Hillman Imp, Irn Bru and Tunnock's tea cakes, and sports such as curling and shinty.
The tapestry was unveiled at the Scottish Parliament in 2013. It subsequently toured the country before being installed in its permanent home in Galashiels. Located here as part of a Borders Textile Trail, with the intention of bringing tourists to a somewhat deprived industrial town, the centre opened in 2021 occupying the former Post Office that was extended onto an adjacent site once occupied by a discount store. King Charles III and Queen Camilla officially opened the centre on 6th July 2023, with Camilla adding stitches to a commemorative panel.
The building was Galashiel's former Head Post Office dating from 1894 and now B-listed, which has been extended by Glasgow-based architects Page and Park in 2021. The striking new addition contrasts markedly with the Renaissance-style sandstone ashlar original. The geometric pitched roof gives rise to equally complex ceiling designs within the gallery, where the tapestry panels are displayed on walls that radiate outwards from the centre. Reduced light levels and air conditioning of the display cases preserve the colour and structure of the tapestry. The interior walls of the new building are clad with fabric woven on the Isle of Bute and finished locally in Galashiels, while the colours take inspiration from the hills surrounding the town.
The centre is operated by Live Borders, the cultural and sporting arm of the Scottish Borders Council.
