Tudor treasures go on display for Open Cambridge

Charts illustrating the defeat of the Spanish Armada, Henry VIII’s love letters to Anne Boleyn and a red velvet book once owned by Queen Elizabeth I are amongst the items going on public display at St John’s College for Open Cambridge this weekend.

The 17^th century oak door of St John’s Old Library will be open to the public from 10:00am-4:00pm on Saturday 13 September as part of the annual festival. The Library will host an exhibition of rare and significant Tudor books, including historic texts from the libraries of Lady Margaret Beaufort and Queen Elizabeth, to celebrate the 450th anniversary of Elizabeth I’s royal visit to Cambridge.

As part of the celebrations, there will also be an Elizabethan pageant and procession setting off from Great St Mary’s church and wending its way through King’s, Trinity and St John’s Colleges before meeting the Mayor at the Guildhall, re-tracing the route taken on Elizabeth’s original visit. The pageant will feature costumed re-enactors including Queen Elizabeth I herself as well as Tudor music and historically-themed activities for all ages at Great St Mary’s throughout the day.

A video of highlights from the Elizabethan pageant can be seen online:

Elizabethan Pageant from Historyworks on Vimeo.

The Old Library exhibition is free of charge and there is no need to book.

For more information about the Elizabethan pageant at Great St Mary’s, contact Rosie Sharkey by email at heritage@gsm.cam.ac.uk or by phone on 01223 741720.