The Douai Monastic Library was opened by the Most Revd Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury on Sunday September 12, 2010. The architect was David Richmond RIBA.
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A carving by Thomas Mpira has been commisioned for the library.
Douai Abbey Library has
- over 60,000 volumes
- specialist collections
- mediaeval manuscripts
- early printed books
- recusant works
- archive dating back to the 17th century
- unique collection of English Catholic portraits
Now for the first time since expulsion from France in 1903
it has adaquate accommodation.
Our architect, David Richmond, has designed a building which
- provides optimum conditions for books and archives
- good facilities for students
- and a location for religious orders to deposit their archives, which could be at risk.
The ground plan of the library.
book stacks and archives - - reading room - - offices - - cloister to the Abbey Church
Examples of works in the library are:
Mediaeval manuscripts such as
Prologue of the
Rule of St Benedict c1300Initial 'M'with a depiction
of Pentecost c1400Illuminated French manuscript
with illustration of Job
and his comforters c15.00Early printed books
Epiphanius in Ancorata, 1555 Curtis's Botanical Magazine ed J. Sims, London 1803 To see the progress of the library being built.
Registered Charity No. 236962
page created 14/12/06 & updated 26/11/11
e-mail webmaster@douaiabbey.org.uk