St Edmundsbury Cathedral hosts behind-the-scenes tours with Heritage Open Days

Cathedral visitors are being offered the chance to discover a historic library founded in 1595 of more than 550 books.

St Edmundsbury Cathedral on Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, is opening the doors to its Ancient Library and The Norman Tower to celebrate Heritage Open Days over four days in September.

The free 30-minute library tours will see visitors explore the extensive book collection of works mainly printed in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and founded by Dr Miles Mosse as a resource for clergy training.

Sarah Friswell, visitor experience manager at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, said: “We’re thrilled to offer something a little different for visitors during Heritage Open Days.

“Our Ancient Library is a special space and is a real treat for book lovers and those interested in history.

“We’re also very grateful to have the Norman Tower Bellringers open up their space to the public.”

The Norman Tower Bellringers will be showing visitors around the rarely viewed bell tower on Saturday, September 9 to learn more about the art of bellringing and a brief history of the former main gateway to the Abbey.

Built between 1120 and 1148, the tower is one of the oldest Norman buildings in the UK and attendees will be able to see the 12 bells inside including the original 10 cast in 1785 by Thomas Osborn of Downham Market, with three more added between the 1970s and 2000s.

It will also be open to the public between 2pm and 5pm on Thursday, September 14.

For more information and to book your free tickets, visit stedscathedral.org/whats-on.

The Ancient Library visitor sessions will be available on September, 8, 9, 15 and 16.