Conservation Efforts Underway for Rare Medieval Irish Documents

Experts are restoring and digitizing centuries-old ecclesiastical registers to preserve Ireland's fragile historical records and expand global access.

• Work has begun on conserving the 650-year-old register of Archbishop Milo Sweteman, one of the oldest paper documents on the island of Ireland.
• The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) is leading the restoration, which involves reversing damage caused by outdated preservation techniques from the early 20th century.
• The Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland initiative aims to digitize and make accessible seven centuries of historical documents, many of which are fragile and rare following the 1922 fire at the Public Record Office of Ireland.
• The registers provide valuable insights into medieval Irish life, including legal documents, correspondence, and personal reflections, as well as accounts of significant events like the resolution of the Great Schism at the Council of Constance.
• The conservation process includes delicate cleaning, repairing with Japanese kozo paper, and rebinding using historically accurate methods to ensure the documents' longevity for future generations.

3 Articles

The Guardian Evening Standard The Independent