Animal encyclopedia inspires free colouring book for all

A new colouring book designed to appeal to all ages has been inspired by striking images from within a rare and historic library.

It is part of South Kesteven District Council’s ongoing work to promote all that Grantham has to offer and bring its historic, social and natural attractions to a much wider audience.

Weird and wonderful animals featured on the pages of a 16th Century encyclopedia are reproduced in the book, which is a celebration of the rare collection at the Trigge Library, the first public reference library in England and one of Grantham’s hidden gems.

The Library contains many rare books, including several volumes of an encyclopedia of natural history, the Historia Animalium by Conrad Gesner.

The books, printed between 1551 and 1588, are rare survivors of this early attempt to make an encyclopedia of all known animals, fish, birds and reptiles – and also contains mythical animals such as unicorns, sea monsters and dragons.

Council Leader Cllr Richard Cleaver said: “This celebration of one of Grantham’s hidden gems shows another aspect of Grantham which deserves far more recognition both locally and to visitors coming into our District.  Promoting this time capsule will help make the library and its most vivid artwork accessible to all ages.

“It has been produced as part of the Grantham High Street Heritage Action Zone programme which is funded by Historic England and South Kesteven District Council.

“The artwork found in this book, along with some of the other beautiful and fascinating art, can all be found within the library, kept in a small room above the south porch of St Wulfram’s Church.”

The Trigge Library is a rare example of a chained library, dating from 1598, established after Francis Trigge, Rector of the nearby parish of Welbourn, gave £100 for the creation of a library which he intended to be of use to local scholars, clergy, and any other local resident who would like to use it.

Many of the books there were already antique when they were purchased, and several date to before 1501, making them very early examples of the new technology of printing.

The books were chained to the shelves to be read in the library.  The chains were hand-forged and made in Grantham. The books, in many cases, still have their original patterned bindings and some 80 still have their chains which prevented theft.

Control of the Trigge library was later given over to the Alderman of Grantham, the two vicars of Grantham, and the Master of the Grammar School (now King’s School), making it the UK’s first public reference library.

The free colouring book is available at St Wulfram’s Church.