Library move, 2013-2017
/Suzy Micklewright reports on the project to remove the contents of the Chapter Library to storage in advance of its refurbishment as part of the Hidden Treasures, Fresh Expressions project. Featured in The Friends of Rochester Cathedral Annual Report for 2017.
Since 2009, I have been a volunteer in the Cathedral Library and have learned so much about rare and ancient books. There is a large team of dedicated volunteers who attend regularly to help with the library and do whatever is needed.
We have had training from a professional Book Conservator on exactly how to handle old books, how to clean them and what equipment to use. We now have a collection of specialist brushes, a museum grade vacuum cleaner and various book cushions on which to place the books for viewing. Throughout the year on special days we have ‘show and tell’ sessions in which we offer the public the opportunity to see these rare books and learn of their varied history.
In September 2013, the Library Volunteers embarked on the task of packing approx. 6000 books in crates ready for transportation to the Kent Archives in Maidstone.
Prior to that, we had been engaged in wrapping the pre 1901 books individually in acidfree tissue. Each crate was lovingly lined with bubble wrap – in fact, we used so much that we virtually cleared the county of bubble wrap. We called it ‘Bubble Wars’. Incidentally, now the crates are once again empty we have bags and bags of the stuff to recycle. Is anyone interested?
All the books were stowed safely in the Archive Strong Room and we were allowed access. Having really up-to-date equipment, they cleaned and digitised much of our stock and made sure they were kept safe.
Having no books to deal with, we were given boxes of old sermons, written by Canon Harry Gripper from his days as a Curate in Wigan and later a Canon at the Cathedral and Master of Tonbridge School. These had been found in a cupboard in the Cathedral, I might add. They proved very interesting reading – once you could understand his handwriting. There are many sermons about the war and the hardships felt by people, especially in Wigan, which was a very poor place. These sermons and evaluations will eventually be available to browse in an Access file in the Library.
The long-awaited return of the books began at the end of 2016 but was not without its problems. The crates came back in random order (not what we had planned) and we fought to have them re-sorted in the same order of taking them off the shelves in the first place. Eventually, the Library folks were listened to and the pre 1901 books were shelved in the correct order. The ‘Dewey’ modern books were placed on the shelves by a professional mover but then had to be removed and placed in three rooms of the Hesketh family’s former home at East Canonry. We were not sure at the time, how many we would have room for in the library.
Most of the books have now been returned to the library shelves and it is looking good, especially if you are a visitor and can look through the curved glass partition beyond the magnificent Hamo de Hythe door. It will be many months before we are fully functional as a reference library as we still have to add the shelf location of each book on the Library Catalogue which is hosted by the University of Kent, Until this is done we cannot locate books individually so will be unable to retrieve them from the shelves for specific requests. The people with library backgrounds have been particularly frustrated by this as it is completely out of our hands.
We are in the Library generally on a Tuesday and Friday but this is subject to change due to staffing commitments. We would love to welcome anybody to come and view, what will be a great asset to the Cathedral; in the future, and a valuable resource to students and interested people alike. Do please visit us, we would love to show it off.
Suzy Micklewright
Library Team Leader
Friends of Rochester Cathedral Annual Reports
The Friends of Rochester Cathedral were founded to help finance the maintenance of the fabric and grounds. The Friends’ annual reports have become a trove of articles on the fabric and history of the cathedral.
Keeping the Cathedral standing, warm, lit, beautiful and ready to receive worshippers and visitors is a never-ending task.
