Harris Tapestry

Harris Tapestry The Tapestry of Harris: The island history of 1,000 years captured in embroidery
View: Leverhulme Community Hub Tue-Sat 10am-4pm

Our tapestry has been getting a lot of love in the Leverhulme Community Hub guestbook lately and we’re absolutely delig...
11/05/2026

Our tapestry has been getting a lot of love in the Leverhulme Community Hub guestbook lately and we’re absolutely delighted!

Reading your kind, thoughtful comments has made our day more than once. It’s lovely to see how the piece speaks to so many of you.

A big thank you to everyone who stopped, looked, and left a little note. You’ve added your own threads to the story 🫶

Lord Leverhulme: The Visionary of Leverburgh Anyone visiting the small village of Leverburgh in the South on the Isle of...
07/05/2026

Lord Leverhulme: The Visionary of Leverburgh

Anyone visiting the small village of Leverburgh in the South on the Isle of Harris today will encounter the name of a man whose ambitions were once set to transform the entire island: William Hesketh Lever, better known as Lord Leverhulme.

The soap magnate (founder of Unilever) was a philanthropist and tireless visionary who sought to lead Harris out of poverty.

His plan was bold: he wanted to turn the village of Obbe into a hub for the fishing industry. He invested massively in infrastructure, building piers and factories.

In a gesture of appreciation and hope, the residents renamed the village Leverburgh in 1920. This unique sense of optimism is also captured on the Harris Tapestry. The embroidery wonderfully depicts the warm welcome the islanders gave the Lord.

Although Leverhulme’s project remained unfinished after his death, his spirit lives on today in the architecture and the very name of the village and Leverburgh is still a great place for people with visionary ideas.

All nine panels of the Harris Tapestry can be viewed Tue-Sat from 10 am to 4 pm at the Leverhulme Community Hub. Bring some time - there is a lot to discover. And whilst you are there pop in the Aosd' is Ùr Charity Shop, and the South Harris Historical Society, both located in the same building.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The Harris Tapestry Collection 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Our greeting cards are more than just stationery: they are a window into t...
05/05/2026

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The Harris Tapestry Collection 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Our greeting cards are more than just stationery: they are a window into the soul of Harris.

Each card features a stunning close-up photograph of the original Harris Tapestry, capturing the intricate textures and stories of this textile masterpiece. 🎨

Every penny from the sale of these cards goes directly towards the maintenance and preservation of the tapestry. By taking a piece of art home, you are helping us protect this unique cultural heritage for generations to come!

Visit the Tapestry:
Pop into the Leverhulme Community Hub to see the incredible details of the tapestry in person.

Open Tue-Sat 10am-4pm

📮 Can’t make it to us? We’ll come to you! We are offering the complete set of all 9 designs (including envelopes) delivered straight to your door.
💰 Price: £30 for the full set
🇬🇧 UK Shipping: FREE!
🌍 International Shipping: Available on request

Order your set now by sending us a Direct Message (DM) or leave a comment below. 👇

Thank you for your incredible support! ❤️

Long before machines took over this work, women would gather in a circle to knead, beat and shrink freshly woven Harris ...
04/05/2026

Long before machines took over this work, women would gather in a circle to knead, beat and shrink freshly woven Harris Tweed with their feet, fists and work songs sung from the bottom of their hearts. This tireless ritual transformed the fabric into a wind- and waterproof material for our rugged islands, whilst forging unbreakable bonds of laughter, stories and solidarity 🧡

In this close-up of the Harris Tapestry, seven women surround a table, ready for the dance of hands and the accompanying voices. An important thread of history… which has now faded, as we have swapped communal singing and this wonderful waulking tradition for scrolling through social media feeds. 🤷‍♀️

Did you ever experience waulking for yourselves? What do you think about reviving the tradition?

Let us know in the comments

If you take a look at the tapestry, we’d love to hear from you. There’s a guestbook on the counter in the Leverhulme Com...
18/04/2026

If you take a look at the tapestry, we’d love to hear from you. There’s a guestbook on the counter in the Leverhulme Community Hub. Why not write down what you think of it?

A small treasure to pop in the post!We have 9 lovely greeting cards available, each with an envelope, at £3 each. They f...
16/04/2026

A small treasure to pop in the post!

We have 9 lovely greeting cards available, each with an envelope, at £3 each. They feature beautiful details from the Harris Tapestry panels, perfect for sending a little piece of Harris, or keeping as a mini memento.

The cards are available in the Aosd' is Ùr Charity Shop, Shop, and the Harris Tapestry can be visited in the Leverhulme Community Hub, Tuesday to Saturday, 10am–4pm.

Beautiful, local, and rather special.

PS: and if you pay the postage we are also happy to send them to you. :-)

15/04/2026

😍

While exploring the Harris Tapestry archive, we came across loads of pages filled with handwritten names of those who he...
14/04/2026

While exploring the Harris Tapestry archive, we came across loads of pages filled with handwritten names of those who helped create this remarkable piece of Harris’s history. Each name tells a story — and some of those wonderful contributors are sadly no longer with us.

Perhaps you remember someone who was involved, or maybe you took part yourself? We’d love to hear from you. Speaking with a time witness would mean a lot as we work to preserve this part of Harris’s creative heritage.

While looking through the Harris Tapestry archive, a hand-painted sketch was found — a small but familiar detail.It show...
12/04/2026

While looking through the Harris Tapestry archive, a hand-painted sketch was found — a small but familiar detail.

It shows a woman behind her spinning wheel, just as she appears in one of the nine tapestry panels!

It’s amazing to imagine how much planning, teamwork, and creativity went into bringing this Centenary Project to life. Every thread tells a story of Harris.

More discoveries are sure to follow as the archive reveals its hidden gems!

Unravel the magic of Harris Tapestry! Created with love on the Outer Hebrides, these vibrant works capture our rugged la...
10/04/2026

Unravel the magic of Harris Tapestry! Created with love on the Outer Hebrides, these vibrant works capture our rugged landscapes – think stormy seas, heather hills, and ancient tales in every thread.

Swing by the Leverhulme Community Hub to see all nine panels – which scene speaks to you?

Available to view whenever the Hub is open: Usually Tuesday to Saturday, 10am–4pm

Address

C/o Leverhulme Community Hub
Harris
HS53TS

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

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