The British Library.

For part of my course at college I need to work placements and my first has been with Culture24. Yesterday I was able to go up to London for a press viewing of the new exhibition that is being opened to the public tomorrow with is the Royal Illuminated Manuscript at the British Library

The British Library has always been somewehre I had wanted to visit due to the fact that they have the original handwritten manuscript of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Unfortunately by the time we got there and found out that the library would be closing at 2 because the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, would be officially opening the exhibition we didn't have any extra time to look around. :(

First impressions of the exhibiton: It had an amazing atmosphere. The way that they had done the walls by transitioning from a dark blue at the end to red at the start of the exhibition helped create a very relaxed atmosphere. Another thing that struck me was how many books there were and hold old they were, it was amazing to see 154 books, which are dated between the 9th and16th century.

Personally history isn't something im very interested in so I didn't really focus on the history of the books, I looked more at the illustrations and how beautiful they were after all this time. Taking a quick glance rounf you automaically notice how bright and vibrant the colours are and especially the use of gold leaf within them.

I think my favourite in the whole exhibition is the wedding present for Margaret of Anjou and Henry VI because of how intricate and beautifully done it is, the amount of work that must have had to have gone into that is amazing.

The book is made up of fifteen bits of text in French but I loved it more for its two brilliant illustrations. My favourite was the one that illustrates the claim that Henry VI is the rightful king of France.When I first saw it I fell in love straight away and couldn't stop looking at it. It just amazed me how much work went into presents for the royals and how much people used to adore them compared to modern days.

Overall it was an intesting trip and I will definitely be going back up there to see Alice as well as a late night event they are doing next year. :)