Our first organised outing of the year and twenty-six members, wives and guests spent an interesting and informative day at The British Library. Setting off from St Andrew's Church as usual we arrived just in time for coffee in the Terrace Restaurant on the first floor.
We split into two groups and met our guides at the front entrance. First stop was at the model of the Library where we were given a detailed account of the history of the Library and the difficulties encountered during its design and construction over a period of twenty four years from the creation of the British Library in 1973.
Although its modernist design by architect Sir Colin St. John Wilson originally divided critics, the building achieved Grade 1 listed status in 2015. It is often described as the Ship of Knowledge. (Apologies for the poor photo including a person in the background, although the photo on the Library website also has the same flaw!)
Apparently finding a suitable site for the new building was a major challenge as it had to be within walking distance of the original Library in the British Museum. Why within walking distance? Because the priceless items had to be walked to their new home by members of staff as it was impossible to arrange transport insurance cover.
The statistics surrounding The Library are amazing and I suggest you visit their website
https://www.bl.uk/about-us/our-story/facts-and-figures-of-the-british-library for the full story. New facts for me were the Stamp Collection and the UK Web Archive. (Yes, a copy of the Cheam Probus Website is stored by the British Library!)
With our heads full of facts and figures we moved upstairs to the entrance to The Alan Turing Institute to find the Enigma Machine.
Our guide did explain how it worked and how it was de-coded but I'm afraid I didn't understand. It's a complete enigma to me! He also told us what question to ask if we think our neighbour is a spy.(If you want to know the question you will have to ask me in person in case my neighbour is reading this blog!)
Next we made a stop at the entrance to the Asian Reading Room housing many exhibits from The East India Company and the India Office covering the period from 1600 to 1947. Unfortunately a Readers Pass is required for entry to the room so I might return to discover more.
After a visit to the Stamp Collection we finished our tour at The Sir John Ritblat: Treasures Gallery where a Magna Carta is on display.
Our guide finished by telling us the history of some of the Sacred Texts on display. After lunch in the Terrace Restaurant most of us returned to the Treasures Collection for a more in depth study of the items ranging from Charles Dickens to John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
A most enjoyable day out, many thanks Norman.
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