The Last Invasion Tapestry

The Last Invasion Tapestry hangs in Fishguard Town Hall and tells the story of the peculiar 1797 French invasion of Pembrokeshire — an event so short and so absurd that it reads more like farce than military history. Made in 1997 to mark the bicentenary, the tapestry was inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry and took a team of local women over two years to stitch. It runs to 30 metres and depicts the landing, the brief campaign, and the surrender.

The invasion — led by the Irish-American Colonel William Tate on behalf of Revolutionary France — was supposed to trigger a popular uprising in Wales and Ireland. Instead, the force collapsed within days. The tapestry is a genuine work of folk art and makes the story vivid. The town hall also has exhibits on the event. Free to view during opening hours.

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A story
The French landing in 1797 — the last armed invasion of mainland Britain — was a spectacular failure. The 1,400-strong force, made up largely of French convicts and pressed soldiers, landed at Carreg Wastad Point on February 22nd. They looted local farmhouses, got drunk on contraband wine they found hidden in the area, and surrendered within four days. Local legend credits the defeat partly to Jemima Nicholas, a cobbler who single-handedly rounded up 12 French soldiers with a pitchfork.

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