THE ARTS SOCIETY MAIDENHEAD VISIT TO THE LONDON GUILDHALL LIBRARY

In March this year our Braywick Speaker was Dr Peter Ross, who has been the Principal Librarian at the London Guildhall Library for nearly 25 years - where he has lectured  on a broad range of topics. The title of his talk was ‘Shakespeare’s First Folio of 1623’ making 2023 its 400th anniversary. As we had all enjoyed his talk so much, he offered to organise visits to the  ‘Guildhall Library Treasures (including  Shakespeare’s First Folio)’ and the “Medieval Great Hall.” We  booked it for Tuesday 25 September, just before he was due to retire.

We organised an executive coach for 18, for what proved to be a very exciting day out. Peter welcomed us with a few words and then took us on a short walk to the magnificent Guildhall. Many important events are held there including The Annual Lord Mayor’s Banquet since 1502, as well as special dinners for visiting Heads of State.

One of the many beautiful statues in the Hall  was dedicated to Lord Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar. There are also two figures made of papier mache, proportioned like dwarves but the size of giants. One is named Gog and the other Magog, and they are the mascots of London. 

On leaving the Hall you pass through an Arch – a project financed by Sir Richard Whittington, an English merchant and politician of the late medieval period. He was also the real-life inspiration for the English folk tale ‘Dick Whittington and his Cat.’ He was four times Lord Mayor of London, an MP and Sheriff of London. He financed many public projects including the building of the first library in the Guildhall in the 1420s – the ancestor of the modern Guildhall Library. On his death he bequeathed his fortune to form the Charity of Sir Richard Whittington which, nearly 600 years later, continues to assist people in need.

We returned to the Library where Peter gave us a short talk about its history. The Guildhall Library holds internationally renowned collections of books on family and local history, wine and food, Samuel Pepys, John Wilkes and Thomas Moore. We were also very privileged to see a copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio. ‘Mr William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies’ is a collection of plays by William Shakespeare, commonly referred to by modern scholars as the ‘First Folio, published in 1623, about seven years after Shakespeare's death. It is considered one of the most influential books ever published. Peter explained that this book would not be on display again for a long time for its own protection.

We were shown a chained book. In the Middle Ages books were a relatively rare and therefore a valuable commodity. Chaining books to shelves became the most wide-spread and effective security system in libraries across Europe. We saw a book noting all major illnesses of the times including the Plague in London and special books for gentleman’s eyes only! 

We thanked Peter for a wonderful morning and some of us headed off for lunch at ‘The Slug and Lettuce’ restaurant  around the corner. Enjoying nice food and chatting about all the amazing treasures we had seen was a lovely end to our morning. After a walk round the immediate area we had an easy journey back to Braywick Leisure Centre.

Eloise Clark 

(Photographs by Sue Sharland)