Worcester Cathedral Library

Worcester Cathedral Library Worcester Cathedral library and archive was founded in the seventh century to collect manuscripts, books and documents.

There has been a library at Worcester Cathedral for well over a thousand years. The first systematically arranged archive was established by Bishop Wulfstan in the eleventh century, and housed in the cloister. The collection was moved to its current position in the roof-space above the south nave aisle in the fourteenth century. However, the upheavals of the Reformation and the Civil War meant tha

t many books were lost. Between 1670 and c. 1860, the roof-space was used as a school-room, and the library was moved to the Chapter House where it remained until the Victorian restoration of the Cathedral. Since its inception the library has acquired an extensive collection of books and papers, ranging from tenth-century manuscripts to modern reference works. It is the home of the archives of the Dean and Chapter, and also possesses a fine music collection, including pieces by Edward Elgar and Thomas Tomkins. Visitors can follow in the illustrious footsteps of Samuel Pepys and Dr Johnson by booking a tour of the library. Researchers are also welcome to use the collections.

The cathedral as you approach it if coming from the west gardens shows the buttresses and the North Porch. Have a peacef...
30/05/2026

The cathedral as you approach it if coming from the west gardens shows the buttresses and the North Porch. Have a peaceful weekend! Worcester Cathedral

A small colourful depiction of medieval masons working on a city with a King overseeing them from 1475. This was printed...
29/05/2026

A small colourful depiction of medieval masons working on a city with a King overseeing them from 1475. This was printed in Lubeck by Lucas Brandis in his book Rudimentum novitiorum (The first lessons for novices). He reused several images within the book (WCL Inc 13).

With the Worcester Elgar Festival 2026 continuing, here are archives of Elgar conducting his own Violin Concerto with so...
29/05/2026

With the Worcester Elgar Festival 2026 continuing, here are archives of Elgar conducting his own Violin Concerto with soloist Fritz Kreisler in 1911, the 1917 Red Cross charity concert flyer with Elgar conducting For the Fallen with soloist Carrie Tubb and the 1908 performance of Dream of Gerontius in the Cathedral.

The Worcester Music Festival in 1926 had a varied Wednesday evening programme. The full programme cost one shilling with...
27/05/2026

The Worcester Music Festival in 1926 had a varied Wednesday evening programme. The full programme cost one shilling with strict instructions that no encores would be allowed. (The concert took place in the Public Hall not the Cathedral.)

This is the opening to Alfarabi's De Scientiis (On the Sciences) translated into Latin by Gerard of Cremona. Alfarabi wa...
26/05/2026

This is the opening to Alfarabi's De Scientiis (On the Sciences) translated into Latin by Gerard of Cremona. Alfarabi was a Muslim Philosopher (circa late 9th and 10th centuries) and Gerard of Cremona (Italy) was a translator and scholar living in the 12th century (WCL Q81 f. 82r)

A monkey with musical ability plays a drum and a recorder to celebrate a wonderfully sunny day at the Cathedral. This do...
25/05/2026

A monkey with musical ability plays a drum and a recorder to celebrate a wonderfully sunny day at the Cathedral. This doodle was made by a monk student in a 14th century manuscript copy of Averroes' commentary on Aristotle's Physics (WCL F96).

A golden letter Q for the opening of Psalm 52 with a commentary by the Frenchman Gilbert of Poitiers. This was copied in...
23/05/2026

A golden letter Q for the opening of Psalm 52 with a commentary by the Frenchman Gilbert of Poitiers. This was copied in the 12th Century by the Worcester monks (WCL F163 f72v). Have a great weekend!

Tomorrow (Saturday 23rd May) 10am to 3pm the cathedral library team are having a second-hand modern paperbacks book sale...
22/05/2026

Tomorrow (Saturday 23rd May) 10am to 3pm the cathedral library team are having a second-hand modern paperbacks book sale in the Chapter House to raise some money for the cathedral library.

Richard Castle and his wife Elizabeth became tenants of the cathedral in 1501. An agreement was drawn up with the Prior ...
20/05/2026

Richard Castle and his wife Elizabeth became tenants of the cathedral in 1501. An agreement was drawn up with the Prior of Worcester, Thomas Mildenham. The rent was £1 11 shillings and 4 pence per year. The property was located by the River Severn close to the Quay of the city in the parish of St. Andrews. Richard was a weaver by trade and a local citizen.

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8 College Yard
Worcester
WR12LA

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01905 732922

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