By Rosa and James, Exeter Cathedral Work Experience Students
We have experienced an eventful week in the Library and Archives. From learning about how to catalogue library books to making our own exhibitions, it has been intriguing to see behind-the-scenes. On Monday morning, we looked at Shakespeare’s Second Folio and felt fortunate to have seen it since so few have survived. The afternoon was spent opening packages that had not been touched for around 80 years. Inside were vouchers and receipts for building maintenance of the Cathedral and purchases of everyday essentials in the 1920s, such as Lifebuoy soap, toilet roll and matches. Tuesday started unexpectedly by investigating the bug traps around the Library & Archives to check that there were no harmful pests anywhere – an important, but squeamish, task! Ellie (Cathedral Archivist) and Ella (Youth Engagement Officer) wanted some feedback on plans for this year’s new summer Young Historians sessions taking place in August, so we went through lots of documents, including Elizabethan charters and the Exon Domesday.
The final task of the week was to install a mini-exhibition in the Library & Archives, on any theme we chose:
Rosa – My exhibit focused on the Cathedral’s seemingly mundane purchases made in the early 1920s by the surveyor. I particularly loved finding invoices for a 6-pack of toilet paper and 72 bars of Lifebuoy soap! With further research, I discovered it wasn’t until an “anti-splintering” campaign in 1930 that toilet roll was widely used in homes as, before, toilet paper was mostly medicated with aloe.
James – My exhibit was about the Anglo-Saxon charters in the Cathedral Archives. Particularly, an odd square charter, dated AD 670, but describing King Athelstan granting some land in Stoke Canon to the monastery in Exeter. Several features made this easy to spot as a forgery – typical charters are rectangular, not to mention the fact that King Athelstan didn’t reign until 250 years later! Instead, this charter was actually written in the late 11th century.
Overall, this week has been very enjoyable, and being around the lovely team has made it more of a treat than work.