The history of Bradford on Avon over the last 1000 years has been immortalised in stitch.

It took forty six women, two men and over three years to complete.

The result: 12 richly embroidered panels, each a snap shot of a century, which take you on a journey from 1000AD to the present.

From the building of Holy Trinity Church in 1150 to Bradford's Millennium firework celebrations in 2000. From King John's royal visit in 1216 to the luddite riots in 1791 at Westbury House.

King John's royal visit in 1216

The historic tapestry is the work of the Millennium Embroidery Project which was set up to create a legacy to celebrate the millennium.

Inspired by the famous Bayeux tapestry the choice seemed natural... a Millennium Embroidery.

Using local historians and local artist, Jeanne Walpole, 12 bold medieval oil paintings were created.

Working from the paintings the volunteers experimented with different ways to portray the rich textural scenes.

"Out of this came this chain stitch figure which looked very good and chain stitch is something that most people can do," says Gill Winfield a project member.

The building of Holy Trinity Church in 1150

Using fabric paint the historic scenes were transferred onto fabric and quilted. Each individual figure was then traced and made up into embroidery kits.

Then came the stitching.

For the next three years, meeting every fortnight, the 46 volunteers put in a staggering 1300 hours.

Twelve to fifteen hours was spent stitching each figure and at least 200 hours for each panel.

But unlike the embroiderers of the Bayeux Tapestry the members of the Millennium Embroidery Project will not be forgotten.

The names of everyone who worked on the project, whether it was one stitch or 1000, have been stitched on the reverse of each panel.

The Millennium Embroidery Project is currently on show at the Priory Barn, Newton, Bradford on Avon.

In June the exhibition will be at the Holy Trinity Church.