Beauty and the Beasts
/Beauty and the Beasts
July to October 2023
Opening the Textus 900 celebrations at Rochester Cathedral, three remarkable British Library manuscripts are now on display in the Cathedral Crypt exhibition Beauty and the Beasts.
The crypt exhibition explores the lives and works of the monks and servants at the medieval Priory of Saint Andrew founded by Bishop Gundulf on the south side of the Cathedral in the 1080s and dissolved by Henry VIII in 1542. The three manuscripts on loan from the British Library are exceptional examples of volumes owned, produced, or inspired by the Cathedral Priory.
The Rochester Bestiary circa 1230
Royal MS 12 F XIII
The Rochester Bestiary is a splendidly illuminated manuscript once owned by Rochester Priory. Bestiaries, or ‘Books of beasts’, provide an account of the characteristics and habits of a variety of animals, both real and fantastical, together with associated allegorical and moral lessons.
The Rochester Bible circa 1125-1140
Royal MS 1 C VII
The Rochester Bible is a richly decorated manuscript produced by the monks of St Andrew’s Priory, Rochester. Here, Dr Christopher Monk and Reverend Lindsay Llewellyn-MacDuff explore the exceptional artwork of the manuscript..
Elizabeth Elstob’s excerpts from Textus Roffensis 1712
Harley MS 6523
Early Old English scholar Elizabeth Elstob made a facsimile of the c. 1123 Textus Roffensis in two parts. Here, Dr Christopher Monk explores her handwritten copies of the three Old English Kentish law codes, unique to Textus, and her copy of the foundation charter of Rochester Cathedral with its marvelous decorated initial.
Events and activities
A series of community engagement, educational and family events and activities are planned throughout the summer. Follow Rochester Cathedral on social media or see our What’s On page for information about upcoming events.
MESS ROOM Creates: An Exhibition of Gargoyles, Grotesques and Medieval Beasts
Artists from Kent Association for the Blind Art Groups, Peer Arts and Deaf Peer Arts are delighted to share their exhibition inspired by Beauty and the Beasts in partnership with Dr Diane Heath and Martin Crowther from the NLHF Medieval Animals Heritage project at Canterbury Christ Church University.
Above An animation by Eleanor Smith introducing Beauty and the Beasts and the story of the lion in the Rochester Bestiary.
Visit the British Library website →
The Medieval Animals project brings to life this locally neglected but wonderful and nationally important heritage by working with local communities. Its focus is on medieval animals and the rich heritage ‘afterlife’ of animal history.
