Once in a generation an exhibition comes along that is just not to be missed. The British Library seems to be featuring more and more once-in-a-lifetime exhibitions, but Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms really is not to be missed. The Codex Amiatinus is back in the UK for the first time since 716AD, the Book of Durrow will be shown, the Lindisfarne Gospels of course, the St Cuthbert Gospel, examples from the Staffordshire Hoard, a horn similar to those drawn in the Vespasian Psalter, and very much more. The exhibition is on from 19th October to 19th February, and if you're in the UK during that time – don't miss it! More on the link.

The death of Edward the Confessor seems to have been a major factor in instigating the invasion of English by the Normans. His feast day is 13th October (when you can get into Westminster Abbey for free!) and it marks the day before the battle in 1066 – the last day when there was an English king. But how English was Edward? His mother, Emma, was from Normandy and he spent much of his childhood and youth there. He promoted Norman churchmen, Robert of Jumièges eventually became Archbishop of Canterbury, and even welcomed his cousin, William, that conquering Norman, to England in 1051. There's much more on the great British Library blog on the link.

I was looking at some internet clips and came across this – the podcast the great Dr Stella Panayotova, Keeper of Manuscripts and Printed Books at the Fitzwilliam Museum, did for the Calligraphy Today exhibition that was held at the Museum from November 2012 to February 2013. The best calligraphers and letterers from around the world were asked to donate a piece of their work to form a permanent collection at the Fitzwilliam, and although we hoped for around ten pieces, we never expected, but were delighted by, the 70+ that were received. The Calligraphy Today exhibition was the result, and it was so successful that it was extended twice. If you didn't get to see it, this podcast allows you to see some of the gems such as the Hermann Zapf piece here.

This newsletter seems to be majoring on Anglo-Saxons, and here's a really interesting  post about them by the great historian Michael Wood. He lists just ten things that we owe to the Anglo-Saxons, including the first law code for England, enacted by King Æthelstan (see picture, presenting a book to St Cuthbert) in 928 at Grateley in Hampshire. Information about this is in the Textus Roffensis, now held at Rochester Cathedral, and Michael considers this text even more important than the Magna Carta. I was lucky enough to see the Rochester Codex (another name for the Textus Roffensis) up close and personal and it is a remarkable book. Find out about the other nine things by clicking on the link.

 

The Alfred Jewel 

While this is all about Anglo-Saxons, let me also include a massively significant treasure – the Alfred Jewel – and yes, you can see this also in the British Library exhibition. It is an example of supreme craftsmanship. King Alfred gave a share of income 'to his craftsmen, who were skilled in every earthly craft, and whom he had assembled and commissioned in almost countless numbers from many races' (would that we had a King Alfred with this mission now!). An enamelled figure outlined in gold is covered with rock crystal. Around the edge is inscribed in gold letters in  Old English  'Alfred ordered me to be made'. It has a socket at the base for a small rod, and may have been used as an æstel to point at text when reading. It is thought that it may well have been commissioned by King Alfred himself.

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Making Maille

Making maille, or, as the Victorians started to call it – chain mail – was and is a very skilled job. Metal is prepared and drawn into wire of various thicknesses before circles of wire are carefully formed from a spiral. These are then hammered, joined, and holes punched into each circle. This means that the links can be attached together and eventually the whole maille put together. A great film showing this on the link here.

 

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Learn about the Book of Kells

Trinity College in Dublin have created an amazing opportunity for anyone online and completely for free. It continues our theme of the Anglo-Saxon period for this newsletter, but hops across the Irish Sea and is focused on the Book of Kells in Trinity College, Dublin. The course started last week but you can still catch up with the series of different resources, short films, blogs and quizzes where you can find out more about this important manuscript, the historical setting, where it was possibly written and why, and the significance of the manuscript and images. There's also the possibility of joining an online discussion and support group, and you can pay for an upgrade to go in greater depth and get a certificate at the end.

  

In the world of heritage crafts there are many people who give of their time freely, create and run projects, and keep organisations and even individual crafts going. This is their chance to be rewarded! There's £1,000 going for the Heritage Crafts Volunteer of the Year. Have you been to a great course with a fantastic teacher who generously passes on their skills and then some? Is there someone you know who makes fantastic heritage craft, using skills honed over the years? Do you, or someone you know, create craft with all or mainly materials from Britain? And is there someone working in Endangered Crafts (as on the Heritage Crafts Association's Red List of Endangered Craft). There's £1,000 going for each of these too. And on top of all of this, there's a £2500 bursary too. The deadline is 30th November, and there's more on the link.

This glorious piece of crystal has been engraved with one of the most popular images of the Middle Ages. Susanna was falsely accused by lecherous voyeurs, the elders, who watched her bathing in her garden. The crystal was made for Lothair II, king of the Franks and grandson of Charlemagne. Having united this part of Europe, on Charlemagne's death it was divided between his three sons and Lothair ruled over Lorraine. Sadly he accused his wife of incest, mainly to try to divorce her as they didn't have children. There's more on the link.

 
 

How amazing! I was contacted by Jim Penrose, who has recreated the delightful St Cuthbert Gospel, to say that he would like to send me a copy. I was absolutely dumbstruck at the kindness and thoughtfulness of this gesture, and of course was delighted to accept. A few weeks later this intriguing package arrived. I opened it tentatively, as I didn't want to damage the contents. It is outstanding! The cover is exactly as I remember it from seeing the manuscript up close and personal, and the fact that Jim doesn't read Latin but the book is in perfect page order is outstanding. I feel that I am a very, very fortunate person. More on the St Cuthbert Gospel itself on the link.