Friday 10 May 2013

Book of essays on Lord Morpeth's Roll published

A lavishly illustrated book of essays about Lord Morpeth's Roll has been published by Four Courts Press.

The Morpeth Roll – Ireland identified in 1841 discusses the significance of the Roll, and examines what it can tell us about pre-Famine Ireland. Just how the Roll was commissioned and assembled in a matter of weeks, with signatures collected from across Ireland, is one focus of enquiry; as are the reasons for Morpeth’s extraordinary popularity, which endured when he returned to Dublin as viceroy in the 1850s. The Roll is not only a document of national significance, it is also a unique mechanical object on its winding spool, presenting very special challenges for display and interpretation.

After decades of lying in obscurity in Castle Howard, North Yorkshire, the Morpeth Roll has been the subject of intense research, digitization and conservation. It is now being seen in public for the first time in 170 years as part of a touring exhibition, held in conjunction with The Gathering.

Edited by Christopher Ridgway, curator of Castle Howard in Yorkshire, the 114-page paperback can be purchased from the publisher's online shop for €8.95.