Incredible Second World War exhibition 'The Longest Yarn II' set to arrive at Peterborough Cathedral THIS WEEK

The Longest Yarn II: Britain at War will arrive in Peterborough on Wednesday, June 3. Last year, the first ‘Longest Yarn’ exhibition saw scores of people queueing to see the incredible work, some travelling from across the country.

The exhibition brings together 80 intricately created panels of “wool art”, each one metre in length. Together they tell the story of life in Britain from the declaration of war on 3rd September 1939 through to VE Day on 8th May 1945, not only the battles fought, but the lives lived at home.

Visitors will encounter moments that shaped a generation: the King’s Speech, the Blitz, evacuation, D-Day, the bombing of cities, rationing, the Home Guard, the Women’s Land Army and the quiet resilience of communities across the country.

Accompanying the panels are The Gang, eight life-size figures representing the people whose courage sustained Britain during the war, from a Land girl to a Spitfire pilot. Set within the Cathedral’s stunning surroundings, these figures create a striking connection between past and present, inviting visitors to see wartime stories not as distant history, but as lived experience.

The Very Reverend Chris Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough said: “The amazing popularity of The Longest Yarn was a testimony to the creativity and skill of the many extraordinary people involved in its creation, as well as the ways in which it honoured those men and women whose service and sacrifice in time of war it commemorated. We so look forward to welcoming The Longest Yarn II: Britain at War and the many visitors who I’m sure will find encouragement and renewed inspiration from this exhibition.”

Tickets are available at https://peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/event/tickets-coming-soon-the-longest-yarn-ii-britain-at-war/

The exhibition will run until July 4