Group visits to the Library
Guided tour given by a member of the library staff:
Hour-long tours of Lincoln Cathedral's two historic libraries can be pre-booked. The architecture, history and personalities connected with the Medieval Library (built as a chained library) and the Wren Library (designed by Sir Christopher Wren) are described, as well as the growth of the library's rich collections of manuscripts and printed books. There is an opportunity to see some of the rare books during the tour. A fee of £50 is payable.
Notes about visits:
The Cathedral Library is on the first floor and it is regretted that at present there is no disabled access. The maximum number that can be accommodated in a group is 25. Please note that it is not possible to provide guided tours in August.
For reasons of security and conservation, photography is not permitted, but there are postcards for sale.
Booking:
Before returning the booking form, please telephone or email so that the date and time of your visit can be agreed. Then fill in the form and return it with your payment. You will receive a copy of the completed form as confirmation of your booking. Please note that a booking cannot be confirmed without prior payment.
Click on the link below to print out the booking form.
School visits:
Two hands-on workshops are available for schools; one on how a manuscript is made, and the other on how a printed book is produced on a printing press.
In the Medieval Library the children sit on a medieval bench at a medieval lectern, and look at a reproduction chained manuscript to experience the concept that books were unique, and so precious that they had to be chained to a lectern to keep them safe. They handle pieces of parchment and look at medieval manuscripts in the cases.
In the Wren Library they investigate the right to left and back to front directions for type setting and consider the effect that the invention of printing had on the spread of knowledge. Then they print a word on the children’s printing press, and take it home with them.
A fee of £1 per child is payable. There is no charge for accompanying adults. Visits to the library can be booked via the Schools website of Lincoln Cathedral at http://schools.lincolncathedral.com/
Hour-long tours of Lincoln Cathedral's two historic libraries can be pre-booked. The architecture, history and personalities connected with the Medieval Library (built as a chained library) and the Wren Library (designed by Sir Christopher Wren) are described, as well as the growth of the library's rich collections of manuscripts and printed books. There is an opportunity to see some of the rare books during the tour. A fee of £50 is payable.
Notes about visits:
The Cathedral Library is on the first floor and it is regretted that at present there is no disabled access. The maximum number that can be accommodated in a group is 25. Please note that it is not possible to provide guided tours in August.
For reasons of security and conservation, photography is not permitted, but there are postcards for sale.
Booking:
Before returning the booking form, please telephone or email so that the date and time of your visit can be agreed. Then fill in the form and return it with your payment. You will receive a copy of the completed form as confirmation of your booking. Please note that a booking cannot be confirmed without prior payment.
Click on the link below to print out the booking form.
School visits:
Two hands-on workshops are available for schools; one on how a manuscript is made, and the other on how a printed book is produced on a printing press.
In the Medieval Library the children sit on a medieval bench at a medieval lectern, and look at a reproduction chained manuscript to experience the concept that books were unique, and so precious that they had to be chained to a lectern to keep them safe. They handle pieces of parchment and look at medieval manuscripts in the cases.
In the Wren Library they investigate the right to left and back to front directions for type setting and consider the effect that the invention of printing had on the spread of knowledge. Then they print a word on the children’s printing press, and take it home with them.
A fee of £1 per child is payable. There is no charge for accompanying adults. Visits to the library can be booked via the Schools website of Lincoln Cathedral at http://schools.lincolncathedral.com/
