Medieval Treasures in Special Collections

Drop in to see medieval treasures and objects which show the continuing influence of the Middle Ages on literature, theatre and the decorative arts throughout the 19th and 20th centuries

Special Collections staff will be in the Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery Monday 1 July, Tuesday 2 July and Wednesday 3 July, with a selection of highlights from the collections for you to examine up close, as part of the International Medieval Congress 2024.

See how Chaucer and the Canterbury Tales were reinterpreted for a Victorian audience, from editions from which ‘his impurities have been expunged’ to William Morris’s spectacular Kelmscott Press edition.

A group of rare books featuring early work by JRR Tolkien and collaborators show the impact his short time at Leeds University would have on the medievalist and author, not least through the friendships made here.

In 1977, Tony Harrison reimagined the medieval Wakefield mystery plays for a modern audience, creating a site-specific work performed against the brutalist backdrop of the South Bank. Notebooks and photographs explore the development of this extraordinary piece of theatre.

The International Medieval Congress is organised and administered by the Institute for Medieval Studies. Since it began in 1994, the Congress has established itself as an annual event attracting medievalists from all over the world. It is the largest conference of its kind in Europe.

This event is free and open to all.