Homeowners from Castle View recently enjoyed a fascinating afternoon at a talk on the history and treasures of St George’s Chapel’s Chapter Library.
Assistant Archivist Anne Courtney brought the collection to life, describing its shelves of medieval manuscripts, early printed English books and volumes covering everything from theology and history to mathematics and navigation.
Inspired by the talk, Castle View has chosen to support the library’s “Adopt a Book” conservation scheme. Our community is now the proud sponsor of a rare 1657 edition of The Mirrour of True Nobility and Gentility: Being the Life of the Renowned Nicolaus Claudius Fabricius, Lord of Peiresk.
Written by French philosopher and scientist Pierre Gassendi and translated into English by William Rand, it tells the story of Nicolas Claude Fabri de Peiresc, a renowned 17th‑century scholar and patron of the arts.
Although the book itself remains safely in the Chapter Library, Castle View’s sponsorship will help ensure that this fragile volume is professionally conserved and cared for where it belongs. Our support contributes to vital work such as stabilising bindings and paper, so that the book can continue to be studied and appreciated by future generations.
For our homeowners, the project is a lovely way to feel connected to the rich cultural life of St George’s Chapel and to play a small part in protecting a remarkable piece of literary history. The story behind The Mirrour of True Nobility and Gentility has already sparked plenty of conversation at Castle View, and we hope it will encourage even more residents to explore the heritage on our doorstep.
This event typifies life at Castle View, where a rich array of events is designed to both educate and entertain our homeowners, should they wish to join in. A full list of upcoming events can be found here
