“With a bright tiled floor laid in 1290 and a room completed in 1240 and barely changed since, the Medieval Library in Lichfield Cathedral and its contents of ancient books are one of England’s hidden gems” says Michael Fabricant following a tour of the Library on 22nd July.

“I had the thrill of seeing books which had been hand written and illustrated in medieval times including not only a commentary on the bible, but also the bawdy Canterbury Tales – the first edition of the first book ever to be published in English. Also fascinating was an ancient book of maps clearly showing ‘Lichfeild’, as they spelt it then, and a little village, Birmingham, further south.

“The Library is accessed through a spiral staircase and you then emerge 800 years or so in the past.”

Tours tickets can be bought on 01543 306150 or at the Cathedral Shop at 9 The Close, Lichfield.

Photographs show Clare Townsend, Library Manager, showing Michael ancient books and maps.