Medieval and early modern Britain

The manuscripts of the Middle Ages and Renaissance are rich resources for understanding the historical and literary culture of the British Isles. The British Library’s collections include key sources for politics, law, and society before 1600, alongside outstanding works of literature such as Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

Collection guides

Medieval and early modern British historical manuscripts
Sources for British history before 1600
Medieval and early modern British literary manuscripts
Sources for British literature before 1600
Manuscript maps
Cartography from the Middle Ages to the present
Music manuscripts and archives
Sources for vocal and instrumental works from the Middle Ages to the present
Western illuminated manuscripts
Approximately 9,000 manuscripts with decoration or illumination
Early printed books
Highlights of incunabula and books printed before 1600

View all related guides

Help

Subjects

Manuscripts and archives

Unique sources for the ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary periods

Classics

Graeco-Roman antiquity, from the middle of the 2nd millennium BC to the end of the 6th century AD.

Literature and drama

Collections relating to English literature and British theatre

Maps

The British Library collection of maps, plans and views is one of the largest in the world, numbering some 4.5 million

Music

The British Library has a world-famous collection of music

Printed books

Printed material in a range of formats for current researchers and future generations

Readers at desks in the Manuscript Reading Room

Manuscripts Reading Room

The Manuscripts Reading Room is the enquiry point for the Library's western language manuscript collections (i.e. written by hand, not printed). The collection includes literary, historical manuscripts and private papers.

Find information on the shelves about the British Library’s collection of western manuscripts and those held elsewhere
Access online databases and electronic journals and books relating to archives and manuscripts
Order collection items to the Reading Room via our Explore Archives & Manuscripts Catalogue

Some of our manuscripts may require a Letter of Introduction, or may have other Access Conditions.

We offer a range of free Reader sessions and 1-2-1 consultations to help you make the best use of the Library's collections.

You’ll need a Reader Pass

Mon: 10.00 – 17.00
Tue – Sat: 09.30 – 17.00
Sun & English Public Holidays: closed

Opening hours for all Reading Rooms

For enquiries, please contact the Manuscripts Reference Team.

Blog posts

The last day of Constantinople

Monday, May 29, 2023

This year marks the 570th anniversary of the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire, on 29 May 1453. The city at the Bosporus, on the border between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, bridging Europe, Asia Minor and the...

Death of the Wolf

Sunday, May 28, 2023

Exactly a thousand years ago, on 28 May 1023, Lupus – ‘The Wolf’ – died in York. Lupus was the punning Latin name used by the prolific writer, cleric and royal adviser, Archbishop Wulfstan. At the end of his entry...

Medieval and Renaissance Women: remember their names

Sunday, May 21, 2023

The British Library's project devoted to Medieval and Renaissance Women has now reached its successful conclusion. Funded through the generosity of Joanna and Graham Barker, we have digitised a grand total of 93 volumes, 219 charters and 25 rolls that...

Medieval and Renaissance Women: full list of the charters and rolls

Thursday, May 11, 2023

We always say, never start a blogpost with the words, 'We are delighted to announce that'. So, in true time-honoured fashion, we are thrilled to release a list of all the rolls and charters digitised as part of our Medieval...