Greggs has unveiled an 8-metre embroidered tapestry detailing the history of its iconic Sausage Roll at the Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle. The artwork, dubbed the 'Ta-Pastry', is on free display until the end of January.
A Tyneside answer to the Bayeux Tapestry
The piece was first launched at London's Design Museum in June to commemorate National Sausage Roll Day, where thousands turned out to view the needlepoint work. It has now come home to Newcastle, drawing inspiration from the return of the 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry to the UK last month for the first time in almost a millennium.
With Bayeux Tapestry tickets currently sold out nationwide until January, the Great North Museum: Hancock is bringing the monumental embroidery directly to Tyneside. The Greggs 'Ta-Pastry' is displayed alongside a 174-year-old, hand-drawn version of the Bayeux Tapestry created by Newcastle schoolboys. This rare full-scale copy, drawn in pen and ink and coloured with watercolour paints, includes highlighted popular sections such as the defeat of King Harold.
Over 200 hours of needlecraft
The tapestry took over 200 hours of needlecraft, with 5,521,238 individual stitches across 8 metres of cotton canvas. Over 40 kilometres of thread was used, including specially dyed thread colours Greggs Blue and Pastry Gold. The piece is rendered in authentic medieval style, complete with traditional border motifs and satirical Latin framing.
Greggs partnered with master atelier Hawthorne & Heaney, Royal embroiderers known for high-precision military and ceremonial needlework. The six chapters chart the Sausage Roll's journey through decades of cultural change:
- I: Ortus Primus - Founder John Gregg riding through Newcastle on his delivery bike, with the Tyne Bridge in the background.
- II: Fabricatio Lucanicae Crusulo - Post-war bakers perfecting the art of rolling golden, savoury comfort.
- III: Rotulus Omnia Aevia Perdurat - The Sausage Roll remaining a constant through national triumphs from '66 to 2012.
- IV: Magna Divisio - The 2019 media storm sparked when a live TV tasting split the public over the Vegan Sausage Roll.
- V: Legenda Nova - The rise of 2020s brand fandom, with super-fans wearing blue-and-gold streetwear and sausage roll haircuts.
- VI: Victor Mundi - A global success story celebrating a bake enjoyed over a million times every day.
Free entry for all visitors
Keith Merrin, director of North East museums, said: "Of course, the Bayeux Tapestry is one of the world's great treasures, over 1,000 years old and back in the UK for the first time. But we feel that the Greggs Ta-Pastry is just as important a cultural artefact in the North East."
He added: "Not everyone is going to get a ticket to see the Bayeux Tapestry in London, but everybody can come here for free and see the great Greggs Ta-Pastry any time they like." Describing the work, he said: "This wasn't just laser-printed and knocked up for marketing purposes, this is something where a lot of love and a lot of work has gone into it."
Zoe Harris, Customer Director at Greggs, said: "The Sausage Roll is woven into the very fabric of British culture, but its heart will always belong to the Northeast." Malavika Anderson, Museum Manager at the Great North Museum: Hancock, added: "We're very excited to welcome this modern piece of Northern pop-culture heritage to the Great North Museum: Hancock. It offers visitors a brilliant, playful contrast to the ancient collections, and we expect it to be a huge hit with families and culture lovers alike."
The Greggs Ta-Pastry is on show at the Great North Museum: Hancock until the end of January, with free entry.
