Rare medieval manuscript fragments discovered in Guernsey

Tuesday, 25 August 2026 14:00

Researchers say the discovery of manuscript fragments from the 12th to 15th centuries gives "an unprecedented glimpse into Guernsey’s medieval past."

While searching for a 16th-century text, Archives Assistant Callum Tostevin-Hall found something much older.

He discovered 17 fragments of medieval manuscripts, reused as notebook covers and bindings for records.

They are the first real evidence of books and texts being circulated in Guernsey in the 1500s.

Many are in Latin or French rather than English, and are non-religious.

Callum says they offer a glimpse into Guernsey's past.

"It was very clear to me immediately upon seeing this that it was actually a double-reused bifolium of medieval manuscripts that had Gothic text and illuminated capitals and everything.

"So I thought, well, this is very interesting, and so I brought it to the attention of my manager, and that's how this whole process started.

"We had previously no clue what the literary culture of medieval Guernsey was like, and now with this discovery of these 17 different fragments that had been reused in the 16th and 17th centuries, we have a much clearer view or at least a partial view, of the sort of things that were being read and circulated and were available on Guernsey in the sort of 12th to the 15th century."

On 10 September, academics from the UK and France will host a study day at The Island Archives to display and discuss the fragments.