Preserving history: Conservation Work of 650-Year-Old Documents, ecclesiastical register, begins in Ireland safeguarding medieval treasures for future generations.
The island of Ireland holds a wealth of historical treasures, but few are as rare and delicate as the 650-year-old ecclesiastical register of Archbishop Milo Sweteman.
Conservationists at the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) have embarked on a meticulous project to preserve this medieval relic, ensuring its legacy endures for generations to come.
The Historical Significance of the Ecclesiastical Registers
The ecclesiastical register of Archbishop Milo Sweteman, dating back to his tenure from 1361 to 1380, is one of the oldest surviving paper documents on the island of Ireland.
This invaluable piece of history, now being painstakingly restored, sheds light on the administration of the medieval Catholic Church. The register contains drafts and copies of legal papers, official correspondence, receipts, wills, and other administrative documents managed during Sweteman’s time as Archbishop of Armagh.
Paper documents from this era are exceedingly rare, as parchment made from animal skins was the preferred medium for writing.
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The paper used in these registers, imported from Italy and Spain, signifies the extensive travels and connections of the archbishops across Europe. These registers offer not only insights into church governance but also glimpses into the socio-cultural aspects of medieval life in Ireland.
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The importance of these documents is magnified by the loss of countless historical records in the 1922 fire at the Public Record Office of Ireland in Dublin during the Irish Civil War. This tragic event destroyed a significant portion of Ireland’s archival history, making the conservation of surviving materials like these registers all the more critical.
Challenges in the Conservation Process
The conservation work on the Sweteman register is a delicate endeavor, requiring state-of-the-art techniques to repair damage from age and previous restoration efforts.
Earlier attempts at conservation, made in the early 20th century, involved placing tracing paper on the fragile pages. Unfortunately, this tracing paper was acidic, accelerating the corrosion of both ink and paper.
Specialist teams at PRONI are now carefully removing the harmful tracing paper using a specialized gel. Following this, the pages undergo a low-pressure washing process to stabilize the material.
Repairs are then made using Japanese kozo paper and wheat starch paste, a method previously employed to restore the register of Archbishop John Swayne.
The register of John Swayne, dating from 1418 to 1438, has already been digitized and made available online. This document offers invaluable reflections on global and local events, including Swayne’s first-hand accounts of the Council of Constance (1414–1418), which resolved the Great Schism of the Catholic Church.
Alongside significant historical details, the register also reveals fascinating personal anecdotes, such as Swayne’s disdain for the fashionable pointed hats worn by women of the time.
Preserving Ireland’s Medieval Treasures for Future Generations
The ongoing work is part of a broader initiative led by the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland, a collaboration aimed at recreating Ireland’s rich historical archives. This project seeks to digitize and provide global access to centuries of historical records, ensuring their preservation for posterity.
The Diocese of Armagh, which still owns the registers, has granted permission for their conservation. As the head of conservation at PRONI, Sarah Graham highlights the significance of stabilizing these collections to make them accessible for current and future generations.
“The work that we do in conservation more broadly is really important to stabilize the collections so that they’re available to the public now, but they’re also available for generations to come,” Graham stated. She emphasized the rarity of these medieval records, given the devastating losses in 1922, and their role in offering a unique glimpse into life in 14th and 15th-century Ireland.
In addition to Sweteman’s and Swayne’s registers, conservation work is also underway on the register of Archbishop Nicholas Fleming, dating between 1400 and 1418. Together, these documents provide an irreplaceable account of Ireland’s ecclesiastical and social history, capturing both monumental and mundane details of the era.
The meticulous efforts to preserve these documents underscore the importance of maintaining primary sources of historical material. By conserving these registers, Ireland safeguards its heritage, ensuring that future generations can explore and understand the stories of their past.
let’s enjoy few years on earth with peace and happiness….
