Preservation of Historic Books at Lincolnshire Church Applauded by Princess Royal
An impressive preservation of over 1,000 historic books at St Botolph's church in Boston, Lincolnshire, has received high praise from the Princess Royal. This commendation was given during Princess Anne's tour of the medieval church, also known colloquially as the 'Stump'.
Significant Library Preservation Work
Substantial efforts were undertaken by the Boston Stump Trust to manage UV light exposure and control humidity in order to adequately protect the precious tomes. The church houses a notable collection of around 1,200 historic books, featuring works by illustrious authors such as Chaucer and St Augustine.
As Princess Anne toured the church, she spent considerable time discussing the improvements with Lee Marshall, the managing director of the net zero design company, Viridis.
"Princess Anne accompanied me to the library with just a small handful of other staff and proceeded to spend 25 minutes discussing the improvements we had designed. I was amazed at her deep level of interest – she was really keen to find out more about what we had done."
Fragile Volumes' Protection Strategy
Among the intriguing books housed in this library is St Augustine's Commentary on Genesis. This significant piece, dating back to the year 1170, was at risk due to over-exposure to natural light and varying conditions of temperature and humidity. These factors posed a severe threat to this crucial piece of literary history. Other notable works in the collection include a 1542 edition of Geoffrey Chaucer's works, a 1549 printed Book of Common Prayer, and a collection of books by Dutch philosopher Erasmus, published between 1545 and 1548.
Commenting on the situation of the library, Mr. Marshall mentioned how it had been exposed to "too much natural light". A conscious strategy of temperature regulation was undertaken, successfully maintaining a moderate internal temperature ideal for the delicate books.
The intervention included building bookshelves in front of smaller windows and installing louvre blinds in the larger window. A humidification unit was installed to ensure appropriate moisture for the preservation of these ancient texts. The building's boiler capacity and energy use were also reduced to increase efficiency and lower emissions, resulting in an overall more sustainable environment.
In conclusion, Mr Marshall was proud of how they have effectively catered to the building's heating needs at a decreased cost, stating, "The church as a whole is now far more sustainable, and we have created an environment in the library that saves some very historic books."