THE LONGEST YARN: Britain at War

1 - 31 May 2026
Open during usual opening hours, entry by donation

A study of Britain from 3rd September 1939 to VE Day, 8th May 1945. Covering all aspects of life: rationing, evacuees, the blitz, grim headlines during Britain’s darkest hour, ending in the euphoria of peace.

Britain at War showcases 80 engaging panels alongside a cast of life-sized characters, each representing key figures who played pivotal roles during the war.

Launch: The Longest Yarn

May Bank Holiday, Monday 4 May | 10:00-12:00

To launch the brilliant The Longest Yarn, we invite you along for a May Bank Holiday to remember…

The Homefront on the West Front

Join us on the Cathedral’s West Front to celebrate The Longest Yarn exhibition coming to Lichfield Cathedral! See displays on the West Front and participate in family friendly activities inside the Cathedral.

Dig for Victory!

In celebration of all things Home Front, come and learn about the wonderful uses plants and herbs had in keeping the population fed and healthy during the war years! See the sort of things Brits were growing in their Victory Gardens and make your own iconic poster, plus learn about the plants we have growing right here in the Cathedral Gardens that have tended Pilgrims ailments for centuries and that were also top on the governments list for home grown cures during the war!

Poppies Stitch Club

All ages are invited to come to crochet, knit or sew your contribution to our poppy cascade.

This November we will display what we hope will be a record-breakingly long poppy net filled with our community’s handiwork and helping to mark the period of Remembrance.

All are welcome. Entry by donation

About The Longest Yarn

Welcome to The Longest Yarn — where history is stitched one meter at a time.

We are a global community of makers united in commemorating pivotal moments of World War II through large-scale, hand-crafted textile installations.

Our debut project, The Longest Day, was created to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6, 2024. This extraordinary 3D artwork spans 80 meters, with each meter capturing a moment from one of the 80 days of the Battle of Normandy — from the storming of the beaches to the liberation of Paris.

Crafted entirely in knit and crochet, the piece was brought to life by volunteers from around the world. After touring the UK and Ireland — drawing more than 250,000 visitors — the work is now on display in the United States for a year-long exhibition.

And the journey continues.

Our second major project, Britain at War, is now on tour across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, running through to the end of 2027. This powerful 80-meter installation explores the social history of the Second World War — how ordinary people coped, endured, and adapted during years of wartime hardship and change.

The exhibition also features our life-sized, hand-crafted “Army of Duty Calls” figures, honouring those who served both at home and on the front lines.