A register believed to be among the earliest surviving archival paper books in England has received recognition from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO.
Known as the Red Register, the book dates back to the 1300s and is written in “medieval abbreviated” Latin. It holds records from King’s Lynn, including wills from the Black Death period, names of men sent to fight in the Hundred Years’ War, and lists of the borough’s freemen.
Also Read: Why Page-Turning Now Feels Like Doom-Scrolling
The register is one of five items newly added to the Memory of the World National Register.
Archivist Luke Shackell said: “You can see how the town has evolved, has changed and how the governance was done 700 years ago. It’s a wonderful little insight into the world, then.”
When the book was produced, the council reportedly purchased 200 pages of paper, suggesting that it “embraced this new cutting-edge technology”, said Shackell.
“It’s fantastic to have the recognition. It’s a unique and irreplaceable item,” he added.
Although the register has been preserved, Shackell said some of its edges have been damaged by water.
The Red Register will sit alongside other items in the Unesco archive, including the Magna Carta and the Domesday Book.
Simon Ring, deputy leader of the council, said he believed the book could be among the oldest in the world and that it reflected King’s Lynn’s wealth at the time.
He described the UNESCO recognition as “enormous”.
“It was called Bishop’s Lynn at the time, before the Reformation, but to have something like this being created at that time shows the worth and the assets of that time,” he added.
St George’s Guildhall, which is also located in the town, is the UK’s oldest working theatre and dates back to around 1445.
During renovation work in 2023, timber floorboards from the 15th century were uncovered. They date from the period when playwright William Shakespeare is believed to have performed at the venue.
Also Read: Pulitzer-Winning Author and Historian Gordon Wood Dies At 92
Referring to the register, Ring said: “In a way, it’s just another one of our amazing artefacts we’ve got in King’s Lynn.
“At a time when we are trying to remind ourselves here in King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and remind the country and the world that this is a significant place you really need to visit, and for the boost to the economy, it’s phenomenal,” he said.
