The 15-metre-long tapestry was commissioned by Surrey County Council to celebrate the wealth of documents, maps, books and other archive material housed at the Surrey History Centre in Woking.

Designed by Philip Sanderson, the tapestry was created as five panels hanging together to form a progression of overlapping images which interpret Surrey's history from pre-Roman times to the present day.

A team of six weavers worked for eight months on five separate looms to produce the Surrey Tapestry using 15 kg of wool and 17kg of warp thread. Each tapestry measured 3m x 1.5m.

Weavers on the Surrey Tapestries were: Jane Brunning, Jo Lord, Louise Martin, Caron Penney, Philip Sanderson, and Barbara Winkler.

Among the themes that unfold are the Magna Carta; Nonsuch Palace; famous houses and gardens such as Clandon House and Loseley House; the importance of industry and the railway to Surrey's development; Epsom racecourse; and Britain's first mosque at Woking. As the tapestry moves into the 20th century, depicted are Guildford Cathedral, Brooklands motor circuit; Surrey during wartime, the M25 and the storm of 1987. The final panel symbolises with layers of text, the wealth of information available today.