Chapter Library

The former monastic vestry dating to the time of the Black Death was designated the Chapter Library after the dissolution of the medieval priory and remains so to this day.

The foundation of the Benedictine Priory of St Andrew in 1083 established a scriptorium on the north side of the Cloister Garth. A 13th-century list of the items in the priory library records 280 volumes.

After the Dissolution the library was appropriated by Henry VIII. Around half of the manuscripts recorded in the medieval book lists can now be found in the British Library Royal Collection and other institutions worldwide.

 

Priory manuscripts

In addition to the exceptional Textus Roffensis, a handful of medieval manuscripts have been returned or donated since the opening of the Chapter Library in 1904.

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Chapter Library

The Chapter Library is home to a diverse collection of early printed works, from bibles to antiquarian studies from every decade from the foundation of the Dean & Chapter.

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Archive material

The modern reference material of the Chapter Library comprises an assortment of local history and theology works. The archive records of the Dean & Chapter are held at Medway Archives in Strood.

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Items from the Chapter Library are available for study by appointment. For queries or to arrange a viewing contact Heritage Officer Jacob Scott

Textus Roffensis

Find out more about the most exceptional item in the Cathedral collections comprising over 170 texts from the 8th to the 14th centuries.

Custumale Roffense

The circa 1235 Custumale Roffense (‘customs book of Rochester’) is a detailed survey of rents and services (‘customs’) due the monks rich in details on the day-to-day running of the Priory.

Library catalogue

The Chapter Library was refurbished in 2016 and the pre-1900 collection catalogued by the University of Kent.

Archives catalogue

The Cathedral archive records of the Dean & Chapter are held at Medway Archives in Strood, subdivided into records of the Dean & Chapter (DRc) postdating the dissolution and those of the medieval Priory of St Andrew (DRc - priory).