The fascinating history of Oxford University’s 750-year-old medieval library

Today, only a few volumes in the library are chained – for display purposes only. The remaining books are now placed in the modern way, with their spines removed. But other than that, the Medieval Room remains a fascinating time capsule of the library’s history. Near the entrance, visitors can see the 13th-century chest, which Walworth believes is the original. During term time, students still use the historic library room. This continued usage is a major factor in the superlatives often applied to the era of Merton’s library. “It’s hard to think of a former library room that was in constant use,” Weber says.

The library is legendary

Claims about Merton’s longevity first gained momentum in the Victorian era, as it became more of a tourist destination. Visitors will marvel at its stained-glass windows, as well as rare books such as a 15th-century edition of the Canterbury Tales. “It is one of the oldest printed books in England,” explains Walworth. “What distinguishes Merton’s version is the hand-lit borders.” Among those who visited the library was American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson, who mentioned it in his 1856 book English Traits. In 1884, the young Beatrix Potter visited, and described the library’s “beautiful oak ceiling” and “old, dusty smell” in her memoirs.

By this time, books and magazines were increasingly describing the library in standard terms. The Oxford Directory of 1878 described Merton’s library as “the oldest now in England”. The 1885 edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica described it as “the oldest existing library in England”. Gradually, these allegations were amplified. A 1928 article in The Times recounted an event held by the Oxford Preservation Trust at which it was declared “the oldest library in the world.”

Courtesy of the Principal and colleagues of Merton College, Oxford

This heightened perception of Merton’s longevity is referenced in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel The Great Gatsby. In the book, the character of a millionaire fills his mansion with imitations of the most prestigious rooms in history. So, it’s only natural that his books live in an entertaining space he refers to as ‘Merton College Library’. As Walworth put it, “Merton Library had become synonymous with the ‘best’ old library” by then. She even suggested that Fitzgerald’s fictional scenario had roots in reality. “Princeton’s dining clubs have replica historic rooms. One is based on the library of Merton College.”