Visitors are set to get their final chance of the year to explore the hidden treasures of Lichfield Cathedral’s library.
Built in 1249, the library houses a number of historically important texts – and visitors will be able to take a tour for the last time this year on December 5.
Visitors can get a rare glimpse of the incredible treasures housed above the Chapter House. These include books on a wide variety of subjects from theology to travel including:
- Justinian Codex Juris Canonici (13th century)
- Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales (c1420)
- Wyclif’s New Testament (c1410)
- Henry VIII’s ‘Great Bible’ (first edition— 1539)
- Cranmer’s Great Bible (1540)
- The ‘Breeches’ or ‘Geneva Bible’ (1560)
- The King James Bible (1611) – the ‘She’ and ‘Judas’ versions
- Mercator’s Atlas Novus (1638)
- Blaeu’s Theatre du Monde (1645)
- The ‘Vinegar Bible’ (1717)
- Saxton’s Maps of England and Wales
The tour will be conducted by Canon Pete Wilcox, Chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral. He said:
“It is only on very rare occasions we are able to let the general public explore this very unique and historic library and we hope that visitors will enjoy this incredible experience. The range of rare manuscripts and early printed books held within this library is quite staggering and a must for those with a love of history or literature.”
The one hour tour starts at 1pm and costs £7.50. To book, call the Cathedral Shop on 01543 306150 or call in to No. 9 The Close, Lichfield, to book your tickets in person.
