Exploring the Chained Library

Leather cutting in full swing

The first hundred cutouts complete!

A finished mini Chained Library book – what hundreds of children will be able to design with the leather blanks made by Mulberry volunteers

Some afternoon respite with a fascinating tour around the High Parts

What links a British luxury brand to a rural Gothic cathedral? A team of ten volunteers from Mulberry, the renowned British luxury fashion company, visited Wells Cathedral today to assist in creating materials for our children’s activities: replica mini Chained Library books. This volunteering day is part of an ongoing partnership between Wells Cathedral and Mulberry, who have generously donated leather offcuts for several years to support educational projects at the Cathedral.

Wells Cathedral Education Department offers a variety of school visits that connect students with the Cathedral’s rich history. Pupils can explore the medieval Chained Library, a key feature of the Cathedral, and make their own mini chained library books as part of the learning experience. Students also try their hand at illuminated lettering, adding an extra layer of historical understanding to the project.

For Key Stage 3 students, the Cathedral’s Reformation-themed visit explores the history of the printing press. Pupils compare historical documents, such as the Hayles Psalter of 1514 (handwritten in Latin), and the first printed Bible in English, the Great Bible of 1541. The visit includes a tour of the Cathedral, a library visit, a chance to explore the archives, and the opportunity to make a mini chained leather book.

The leather used for these workshops is kindly donated by Mulberry, ensuring each mini Chained Library book has authentic, high-quality materials. This collaboration highlights Mulberry’s commitment to supporting local communities and education, building on their tradition of craftsmanship and training, including their apprenticeship programme, which has provided skills and employment opportunities to local youths since 2006.

Mulberry, best known for its high-quality leather goods, particularly women’s handbags, has long been a champion of craftsmanship and local production. Founded in 1971 in Somerset, the company has a rich history of leather-making expertise, with its origins in an area renowned for its leather fabrication. Leather goods are the foundation of Mulberry’s business, comprising over 90% of their collection, with their UK factories producing over 1,000 leather bags each week. The company is committed to transparency, regeneration, and circularity across its leather supply chain—from farm to finished product.

The volunteers—who come from Mulberry’s development, Lifetime Service Centre, and production teams—spent the day cutting around 1,000 leather blanks for the next year’s Pilgrim Days mini Chained Library book-making sessions.

The day’s itinerary included a High Parts tour of the Cathedral and a morning visit to the Cathedral’s iconic Chained Library. Here, Mulberry volunteers learned about some of the most treasured books in the Cathedral’s 600-year-old collection,  and discovered the inspiration for the mini book-binding and illumination activities they were to help resource with their work.

Jess Witchell, Learning Manager at Wells Cathedral, said:

“We are thrilled to work with Mulberry on this project. Their support is invaluable in helping us bring history to life for students and volunteers alike.

“The Mulberry team’s involvement allows us to continue offering high-quality educational experiences, while also strengthening the ties between our local community and a global brand known for its commitment to craftsmanship.”

For more information about Wells Cathedral’s educational offerings and upcoming events, please visit www.wellscathedral.org.uk/learning.