[MR] Wikipedia: Duke Humphrey's Library

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

As a retired librarian (paraprofessional), I couldn't resist sharing the
story behind today's Wikipedia "Featured Picture". The photo and related
story concern Duke Humphrey's Library.

When he died in 1447, the Duke donated his whole library of 281 books to
Oxford University. All but three books were destroyed during the Protestant
reformation, most being burned as "papist" literature. Today the room built
to house the collection survives intact, and forms the oldest part of the
Bodlein Library.

Most of us have "visited" Duke Humphrey's Library, though we didn't know
it. Duke Humphrey's Library doubled as the Hogwarts library in the Harry
Potter Films.

The Wikipedia story, with more glorious photos, is at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Humfrey%27s_Library .

Humphrey of Lancaster, Duke of Gloucester (1390-1447) was an important, but
controversial, figure during his lifetime. He was the 4th son of King Henry
IV, and thus brother of Henry V. Humphrey fought at Agincourt, and was Lord
Protector of his nephew, the young King Henry VI. Despite being appointed
Regent of England in Henry V's will, other Lords contested the office.
After frequent quarrels with his relatives, Humphrey was arrested for
treason at Bury St. Edmunds, but died just three days later:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humphrey,_Duke_of_Gloucester .

Duke Humphrey was buried in the main church at the Abbey of Bury St.
Edmunds. After the dissolution of the monastery in 1539, the church was
destroyed. Whether his grave survives amid the ruins is not mentioned in
Wikipedia's article. Probably not, but there is a memorial marker dating
from 2000 in the nearby St. Edmundsbury Cathedral:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19413/humphrey-plantagenet .

Yours Aye,


Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆