A summary chronology of the libraries of Canterbury Cathedral.
David J. Shaw
- c. 750
- Creation of the Canterbury Golden Gospels (Codex Aureus), stolen by the Vikings, returned to the Cathedral by Ealdorman Ζlfred and his wife Werburg in the late ninth century. Now Stockholm, Royal Library, MS A.135. [Ramsay 342; Brooks 18]
- c. 800
- Earliest surviving archival documents. [Ramsay 342]
- 959–988
- Archbishop Dunstan encouraged the establishment of a library at the Cathedral, modelled in part on Glastonbury. [Ramsey 34344]
- c. 990
- Establishment of the Canterbury Cathedral scriptorium under Archbishop Sigeric (99094), previously Abbot of St Augustine's, Canterbury (97590). [Ramsay 344]
- 994
- Archbishop Sigeric bequeathed his books to the library. [Ramsay 344]
- 1011
- Work of the Canterbury scriptorium interrupted by the Viking raid on Canterbury. [Ramsay, 345]
- 1067
- The cathedral and monastic buildings largely destroyed in the great fire which also destroyed much of the library collections. [Ramsay 346]
- c.1077
- Completion of Lanfranc's new Priory church and monastic buildings, including the cloister as the main study area for the monks. [Sparks 12]
- c. 1170
- A surviving fragmentary catalogue of the library suggests that it might have held between six and seven hundred books. [Ramsay 351]
- c. 1170–1200
- The Slype (between the Chapter House and the north-west transept) was closed off in about 1160 and was subsequently converted for use as a book room. [Sparks 16; Ramsay 350]
- 1304
- Upper storey for the library in the Slype created by Prior Henry of Eastry (12851331) at the time of the rebuilding of the Chapter House. [Sparks, 16]
About this time, Eastry had a catalogue of the library prepared, listing 1,830 volumes. [de Hamel 263]- 1317
- The South Alley of the Cloister equipped with new study carrels by Prior Eastry. [Sparks 15]
- 1331
- Establishment of Canterbury College, Oxford; refounded in 1363 and constituted as a Benedictine monastic college c. 1370. The college library was stocked from the library at Christ Church Canterbury. [de Hamel 264; Ramsay 362]
- 13371338
- A list produced for the annual inspection of the library records missing books and books transferred to the library at Dover Priory. [de Hamel 264]
- 1396
- The old cloister taken down and the books put into store. [de Hamel 267]
- 1432
- Archbishop Henry Chichele (c.13641443) gave money to build a new library over the Prior's Chapel and to buy books for it. This library was constructed at the same time as the Old Library at All Souls College, Oxford, founded by Chichele and King Henry VI in the 1430s. Construction was completed by about 1444. [Sparks 36; de Hamel 269; Ramsay 364]
- 1473
- New carrels built in the South Cloister by Prior William Sellyng (14721494) who also had the South Cloister glazed. [Sparks 15; Ramsay 372]
- 1474–1478
- Prior Sellyng employed the Dutch scribe Theodoric Werken to copy books for the Library. [Parkes 110]
- 1492–1496
- Prior Sellyng and Prior Thomas Goldstone II (14951517) employed the Norman scribe Jacques Neell to copy books for the Library. [Parkes 111]
- 1500–1530
- By the time of the Reformation, about half the library stock in Canterbury had been transferred to Canterbury College, Oxford. [de Hamel 266-267]
- 1508
- A list compiled recording books in the Upper (Chichele) Library. It was drawn up by Dom William Ingram, warden of the Martyrdom, possibly as a survey of books needing repair. [Sparks 37; de Hamel 269; Ramsay 364365]
- 1535
- Following a fire in the Prior's Lodgings, the Upper Library was boarded up and the books remained inaccessible. [de Hamel 273]
- 1540–1550
- A number of manuscripts from Canterbury Cathedral found their way into Archbishop Cranmer's library. [Selwyn 285]
- 8 April 1541
- The New Foundation.
The Chichele Library above the chapel continued in existence to hold the Dean and Chapter's books and manuscripts. [Sparks 120]- 1545
- Dissolution of Canterbury College, Oxford, with the resultant loss of Canterbury Cathedral books in its library. [de Hamel 267]
- 1550/51
- Purchase of editions of texts for the Library, in response to Archbishop Cranmer's enquiry about compliance with the Injunctions of 1547. [Ramsay 374]
- 1550–c.1620
- Many manuscripts from the old monastic library given away to or otherwise acquired by influential collectors, including archbishops.
- 1568
- Archbishop Matthew Parker empowered to gather together old manuscripts, including a number from Canterbury (now mainly in Corpus Christi College, Cambridge). [de Hamel 271]
- c. 1570
- Book losses had taken place from all over the Cathedral and former monastic buildings, but hardly any from the Upper (Chichele) Library until it was opened up again c. 1570. By 1600, few books remained in the Upper Library. [de Hamel 2734]
- 1620s
- New initiative to encourage the development of a cathedral library, especially under Isaac Bargrave (Dean 16251643). [Sparks 121]
- 1628
- The first surviving Benefactors' book was started. [Ramsay 378]
- 1633
- Gift of 25 books by Archbishop Abbot. [Ramsay 379]
- 1634
- An inventory of the Cathedral's movable objects was made under the supervision of Canon Meric Casaubon on the occasion of Archbishop Laud's Visitation. The inventory of the Library (Catalogus librorum qui sunt in Bibliotheca Ecclesiae Cantuariensis) recorded 31 printed books and 27 manuscripts.
A transcription of this list is given by J.W. Legg [Legg and Hope 263–265].- 1649
- Under the Act for Abolishing of Deans, the Cathedral's archives were sent to London. The printed books probably followed the next year. [Ramsay 382]
- 1651
- The Parlimentary government planned to gather all cathedral libraries into a central repository in London to form a new national library.
- 1650s
- The Chichele Library and the chapel beneath it were demolished. Twelve manuscripts remained in the Upper Library at this date; these are still in the Dean and Chapter collections. [Sparks, 120; de Hamel 274; Ramsay 382]
- 1660
- Restoration of the monarchy and the Church of England. Return of the Dean and Chapter to Canterbury. Return of the Archives and Library to Canterbury. [Ramsay 383]
- 1664
- Construction of new library on the site of the old Dean's Chapel and Chichele Library, partly funded by Archbishop Juxon, with a further gift of £500 from the will of John Warner, Bishop of Rochester, for the purchase of books (1666). [Ramsay 383]
The Donors' Book records gifts by John and William Somner and states that John Somner had supervised the building work. [Read more ...]- 1668/69
- Appointment of a Library Keeper: Elias Robinson, a minor canon. [Ramsay 383]
- 1669
- Purchase of William Somner's library. [Ramsay 383]
- 1670
- Many documents damaged or destroyed in the Audit House fire. [Ramsay 383]
- 1672
- Rules drawn up for the use of the Library. [Ramsay 385]
- 1677
- The chains removed from the books in the Library. [Ramsay 386]
- 1680
- Bequest of John Bargrave's collections. [Ramsay 386]
- 1693
- John Gostling, a minor canon, was paid ten guineas 'for writing the Statutes and the Catalogue of the Bookes in the Library'. [Ramsay 387]
- 1709
- A new library bookplate was engraved. It was pasted into 2,400 books. [Ramsay 386]
- 1714
- Bequest of Stephen Hunt's library. [Ramsay 387]
- c. 1735
- Samuel Norris, the Cathedral Auditor, prepared a catalogue of the medieval charters. [ Ramsay 388]
- 1743
- A catalogue of the Cathedral Library was drawn up by the Revd Dr Robert Eyre and Samuel Norris, the Cathedral Auditor. It listed c. 5,000 titles. The Chapter had 100 copies printed in Canterbury by James Abree: Catalogus librorum bibliothecae ecclesiae Christi Cantuariensis. Cantuariae: typis Jacobi Abree, 1743. [Ramsay 388; Shaw & Gray 30; the Cathedral Library has a copy from the Elham Parish Library (Elham 1315*)]
- 1776
- Dr Osmund Beauvoir, Six Preacher and headmaster of the King's School, compiled a catalogue of the medieval seals from the Treasury. [Ramsay 389]
- 1793
- A catalogue of the literary manuscripts was published by H.J. Todd, a minor canon, as an appendix to his Some account of the Deans of Canterbury; : from ... Henry the Eighth, to the present time. ... added a catalogue of the manuscripts in the Church library. Canterbury: printed and sold by Simmons, Kirkby and Jones; sold also by Flackton, Marrable and Claris; and Bristow, Canterbury; and by T. Cadell, London, 1793. [Ramsay 390]
- 1797
- H.J. Todd, referred to as the 'Librarian', rearranged the books and started a new catalogue, based partly on a listing of the printed books made by David Wilkins (prebendary, 17201745). [Ramsay 38890]
- 1802
- H.J. Todd's new catalogue of the printed books and manuscripts was printed in 160 copies: Catalogue of the books, both manuscript and printed, which are preserved in the library of Christ Church, Canterbury, [London] Bye and Law, 1802. [Ramsay 390]
- 1804
- C.R. Bunce started his catalogue of the archives. [Ramsay 391]
- c. 1830
- The Librarian, Dr J.H. Spry, had the books rearranged by subject, requiring a new shelfmark system. [Ramsay 394]
- 1838
- Construction of new roof for the Library with gothick cast-iron supports.
- 1853
- The lower storey of the old Cheker used for extra Library space.
- 18671868
- Construction of the New Library on the Dormitory site, designed by H.G. Austin, the Surveyor, housing over 5,000 books. [Sparks 2007, 106, 123; Ramsay 395]
The old Library is empty. [Sparks 122]- 1877
- The old library brought back into use to provide extra shelving. [Ramsay 395]
- 1887
- Archdeacon Harrison's library (over 11,000 volumes) given to the Cathedral by his widow Isabella. The old library was refurbished to house them, now renamed the Howley-Harrison Library. [Ramsay 398]
- 1896
- Bishop G. R. Eden, the Canon Librarian, drew up new rules for the use of the Library and had the books re-arranged by John Macfarlane of the British Museum Library. [Ramsay 399]
- 1911
- Publication of C.E. Woodruff's catalogue of the literary manuscripts: A Catalogue of the Manuscript Books (which are preserved in Study X.Y.Z. and in the Howley-Harrison Collection) in the Library of Christ Church, Canterbury, Canterbury, Cross & Jackman, 1911. [Ramsay 402]
- 1 June 1942
- Destruction of the New Library by bombing. [Ramsay 404]
- 1954
- New Library rebuilt on the site of the bombed building, with grants from the Pilgrim Trust and the War Damages Commission. Plans by J.L. Denman. [Sparks 109; Ramsay 405]
- 1964–66
- Construction of the Wolfson Library and Cheker. [Ramsay 405]
- 1979–1981
- A computer-based catalogue of the Library's books printed before 1801 was directed by David Shaw (on behalf of the Bibliographical Society) and Will Simpson (the University Librarian). The detailed cataloguing was mostly done by Miss Karen James and Mrs Margaret Brown.
- 1985–1998
- Publication of the Cathedral Libraries Catalogue by a team based in Canterbury:
The Cathedral Libraries Catalogue. Books printed before 1701 in the libraries of the Anglican cathedrals of England and Wales. By Margaret S.G. McLeod (née Hands) and others. Edited and completed by Karen I. James and David J. Shaw (Editor-in-Chief).
Volume One: Books printed in the British Isles and British America and English books printed elsewhere. London, The British Library / The Bibliographical Society, 1985.
Volume Two: Books printed on the Continent of Europe before 1701 in the libraries of the Anglican Cathedrals of England and Wales. London, The British Library and the Bibliographical Society, 1998, 2 vols.- 1994
- Publication of the catalogue of the Mendham Collection:
Catalogue of the Law Society's Mendham Collection, lent to the University of Kent at Canterbury and housed in Canterbury Cathedral Library. Completed and edited by Sheila Hingley and David Shaw from the catalogue of Helen Carron and others. The Law Society, London, 1994.- 1995
- Completion of refurbishing and redecoration of the Howley-Harrison Library. [Sparks 125, 126]
- 1998
- Publication of the microfiche catalogue of books printed before 1801:
David Shaw and Sheila Hingley (and others), Canterbury Cathedral Library: Catalogue of pre-1801 printed books. Adam Matthew Publications, Marlborough, 1998. 24 pp + 17 microfiches.- 2008
- Richard Gameson, The Earliest Books of Canterbury Cathedral: Manuscripts and fragments to c. 1200. London: The Bibliographical Society and The British Library, in association with the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, 2008.
Bibliography
Brooks: Nicholas Brooks, 'The Anglo-Saxon Cathedral Community, 5971070'. In: A History of Canterbury Cathedral, ed. P. Collinson, N. Ramsay, M. Sparks. (OUP 1995, revised edition 2002) 1–37.
de Hamel: Christopher de Hamel, 'The dispersal of the library of Christ Church, Canterbury, from the fourteenth to the sixteenth century'. In: Books and Collectors, 12001700. Essays presented to Andrew Watson. Edited by James P. Carley and Colin G.C. Tite. (The British Library, 1997) 263–279.
Legg and Hope: J. Wickham Legg and W.H. St. John Hope, Inventories of Christchurch Canterbury. (Westminster: Constable, 1902).
Parkes: M.B. Parkes, 'Archaizing hands in English Manuscripts'. In: Books and Collectors, 12001700. Essays presented to Andrew Watson. Edited by James P. Carley and Colin G.C. Tite. (The British Library, 1997) 101141.
Ramsay: Nigel Ramsay, 'The Cathedral Archives and Library'. In: A History of Canterbury Cathedral, ed. P. Collinson, N. Ramsay, M. Sparks. (OUP 1995, revised edition 2002) 341–407.
Selwyn: David G. Selwyn, 'Thomas Cranmer and the dispersal of medieval libraries: the provenance of some of his medieval manuscripts and books'. In: Books and Collectors, 12001700. Essays presented to Andrew Watson. Edited by James P. Carley and Colin G.C. Tite. (The British Library, 1997) 281–94.
Shaw & Gray: David Shaw & Sarah Gray, 'James Abree (1691?1763): Canterbury's first "modern" printer'. In: The Reach of print : Making, selling and reading books, ed. P. Isaac and B. McKay. (Winchester, St Pauls Bibliographies, 1998) 21–36.
Sparks: Margaret Sparks, Canterbury Cathedral Precincts: A historical survey (Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, 2007).