Unfolding Time: The Medieval Pocket Calendar

Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this new exhibition at the Lambeth Palace Library’s state-of-the-art exhibition space reveals the intricate secrets of a remarkable collection of concertina-fold almanacs dating back hundreds of years.

Described as a kind of ‘medieval smartphone’, concertina-fold almanacs helped their users keep track of time, look up information, and organise their lives. There are thought to be fewer than 30 of these curious medieval manuscripts in existence and they present a fascinating look back into how people in the Middle Ages organised their lives.

Within the zigzag folds of these intricate portable booklets, users could find aspects of time and its measurement vividly expressed in colourful pictures, poems, tables, astrological charts, calendars, as well as other devices and rules that helped them make sense of the world around them.

This exhibition explores a precious collection of such almanacs, drawing on cutting-edge research to present fresh insights into how we understand the people of the Middle Ages.

Visitors can also enjoy activity packs, videos, models, and a full events programme as part of the exhibition.

Talks programme

All talks are free. Prior booking is essential.

THU 20 MAR AT 5:30PM  |  Anne Lawrence-Mathers: Prediction, Prognostication – or Divination? The Medieval Calendar as a guide to the Future 

This lecture will begin with the striking amount of astronomical and astrological information incorporated into medieval calendars, and then demonstrate how this was used in association with texts known as ‘prognostics’ to make various sorts of predictions, ranging from weather forecasts to the correct timing of medical treatments. Book online here.

TUE 22 APR AT 5:30PM  |  Seb Falk: Moons, miracles, and magic: what’s in a medieval calendar? 

Seb Falk unpicks the curious history of medieval calendars. From the mind-bending maths required to establish the precise length of the year and calculate the date of Easter, to their accumulation of a wealth of astronomical, astrological and devotional data, to their use as frames for stunning seasonal art, calendars are endlessly fascinating. Book online here.

FRI 2 MAY 10AM – 5PM (lunch is provided)  |  Concertina-Fold Books across Time, Space and Cultures Symposium

This one-day symposium brings together a group of international experts to talk about the historic uses of the concertina structure in a range of cultural contexts from around the globe. Their discussion will showcase some of the outstanding examples housed in greater-London. Book online here.

SAT 3 MAY AT 10:30AM, 11:30AM, 2PM, 3:30PM  |  Exhibition Curator's Talk: Unfolding Time

Join the library's curators for a short curatorial introduction to the exhibition, after which the curator will be present for questions and discussion. Book online here.