ABSTRACT
A preliminary survey of those 12th-century books from Bury St Edmunds Abbey which retain all or part of their medieval binding structures shows that in the first half of the century books were bound uniformly. They exhibit characteristics which, though unremarkable for the period, can together be claimed to constitute a Bury binding. In the second half of the century, binding practices appear to have been less strictly controlled, and bindings on books from this period exhibit a variety of techniques and styles. It appears that chemises were not regularly applied to bindings during the 12th century. Many of the books copied in the second half of the century show clear evidence of a later medieval campaign of repair and modernization. Board edges were re-shaped, primary coverings replaced over the spine and chemises added, possibly at the same time as part of the repair. Though no clear evidence has so far been discovered, it is possible that the repair campaign was undertaken by Henry de Kirkstede during his period as custodian of Bury’s books.
