The Arthurian Collection, Mold
May. 22nd, 2010 09:39 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
merlocmod.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
merlinlocationsSo, unlike poor nerdy Colin, I got to visit the Library! Hurrah!
I'm sure we all remember that Colin and Bradley tried to visit The Arthurian Collection in Mold as part of The Real Merlin and Arthur show for BBC Wales, but didn't arrive until after it closed. Well, I didn't do all that much better, as I didn't make an appointment ahead of time, but I ended up having a good browse for half an hour late in the afternoon.
The Collection can be found in the Council buildings off Raikes Lane. The general library and related information services have moved into the town centre, leaving the Collection behind in what is otherwise offices - so it doesn't get many visitors and certainly no casual passers-by. Apparently there are only two or three scholarly visitors per month, but the Council is interested in promoting the Collection, and making it available to general readers as well as scholars. It is not, of course, a lending library.
You can call 01352 704 406 for an appointment. Once you get to Raikes Lane, the relevant building is the third one up the hill. You can park (for free) in the next building along, which is a two-storey car park. Reception is up the stairs from the front door.
The Collection mainly consists of scholarly works, the key Arthurian texts, and related background material. This includes some foreign language material, particularly in French. Some of the more significant modern novels can also be found, but there is no attempt to keep up with all the Arthurian fiction that is published these days. There are some beautiful special editions of texts, such as The Faerie Queene on rough-edged parchment with the original woodcuts hand-coloured. I mainly just browsed, but particularly enjoyed a volume on Winchester's place in the legends, and reading up about the Round Table that can be found in the hall there.
links and details
The address is: Council Buildings, off Raikes Lane, Mold CH7 6NW (updated).
rating
I will give this location four pointy hats, though it's the kind of place that you either want to visit regardless of any other consideration or not at all. Keep in mind that it's all aimed at the Arthurian scholar: if there is an aspect of the legends you are particularly interested in and you've exhausted the generally available books, then this is your spiritual home; if not, then maybe you'll find little here to interest you.
I'm sure we all remember that Colin and Bradley tried to visit The Arthurian Collection in Mold as part of The Real Merlin and Arthur show for BBC Wales, but didn't arrive until after it closed. Well, I didn't do all that much better, as I didn't make an appointment ahead of time, but I ended up having a good browse for half an hour late in the afternoon.
The Collection can be found in the Council buildings off Raikes Lane. The general library and related information services have moved into the town centre, leaving the Collection behind in what is otherwise offices - so it doesn't get many visitors and certainly no casual passers-by. Apparently there are only two or three scholarly visitors per month, but the Council is interested in promoting the Collection, and making it available to general readers as well as scholars. It is not, of course, a lending library.
You can call 01352 704 406 for an appointment. Once you get to Raikes Lane, the relevant building is the third one up the hill. You can park (for free) in the next building along, which is a two-storey car park. Reception is up the stairs from the front door.
The Collection mainly consists of scholarly works, the key Arthurian texts, and related background material. This includes some foreign language material, particularly in French. Some of the more significant modern novels can also be found, but there is no attempt to keep up with all the Arthurian fiction that is published these days. There are some beautiful special editions of texts, such as The Faerie Queene on rough-edged parchment with the original woodcuts hand-coloured. I mainly just browsed, but particularly enjoyed a volume on Winchester's place in the legends, and reading up about the Round Table that can be found in the hall there.
From the door looking in.
From the door looking to the right at the display of new titles.
The shelves relating to the Merlin legends.
Various editions of Geoffrey of Monmouth's work.
Looking back towards the door. The display case included a book illustrated by Aubrey Beardsley, and what appeared to be a science fiction version of the legends in comic book form.
links and details
- the relevant page on the Flintshire County Council site (the information is out of date, as the building work is no longer restricting access)
- the Wikipedia entry for Mold
- the location on Google Maps (updated)
The address is: Council Buildings, off Raikes Lane, Mold CH7 6NW (updated).
rating
I will give this location four pointy hats, though it's the kind of place that you either want to visit regardless of any other consideration or not at all. Keep in mind that it's all aimed at the Arthurian scholar: if there is an aspect of the legends you are particularly interested in and you've exhausted the generally available books, then this is your spiritual home; if not, then maybe you'll find little here to interest you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}