For ‘Scotland on Parchment’ I received generous funding from the Paul Mellon Centre for a series of MS research trips to be undertaken this year. I originally wrote this up as a Twitter thread, but since leaving the site, I thought that I would log it here instead. I hope to include a number of posts relating to research trips since, I think that it can provide useful information about the practicalities of undertaking research – did you know that you could get from Edinburgh to the British Library for opening time for instance! Most research trips (in my experience) are not leisurely affairs but more like strict military exercises where every hour is crucial, so I thought that it might be interesting to make a series of posts documenting the ups and downs of MS research trips.

This trip started with a super early start in a brave attempt to get from Edinburgh to the British Library manuscripts reading room in time for opening… (waking at 4.30…)

1 x flight, 1 x train, 1 x underground….and I made it! In time for a quick breakfast before opening time…

By this point I was over caffeinated but ready to get to work. I had 12 manuscripts to see in 2 days. There is a limit of 4 manuscripts at any one time and a max of 6 per day. Nothing can be ordered in advance at the moment. Let’s see how I did…

the first issue was renewing my readers card which was very out of date! I was to be going onwards to another collection after this where I needed to get another readers card so I brought a folder of documents to be sure I had everything!

For the British library I needed a passport and driving licence (or other doc with your address). I also needed a ‘letter of introduction’ in order to access some of the manuscripts I wanted to see. Reading room rules were pretty standard (as above).

Some manuscripts I wanted to see were classed as ‘common’ and others as ‘select’ manuscripts. The select manuscripts needed a letter of introduction. I really don’t know how they classify them, but you cannot photograph ‘select’ manuscript, even with a letter…

Since the cyber attack, you need to use paper slips to call up your manuscripts. You fill these out (in person) and hand them in at the desk. Your manuscripts then arrive in the reading room about 60-90 minutes later…

Yesterday, I did indeed manage to see 6 of my 12 manuscripts. 4 were select & could not be photographed. Initially this was frustrating, but it did force me to take pages & pages of hand written notes… So not all bad. I will try to order some images when back in Edinburgh.

So day 2 and breakfast outside the British Library ready for round 2.

I should mention the lockers. The BL has lockers operated by a pin number (no coin needed). They are large enough for small amounts of luggage if you’re travelling, but they do have size restrictions on bringing luggage into the Library building.

I found some wonderful beasts on day 2! I managed to see all six manuscripts after a bit of waiting for some. I was also delighted to see @Lucy_HS_Dean in the reading room today. A nice little Scottish research contingent in London! This is one of the great pleasures of having some research time – seeing other researchers busy at work.

I also just managed to squeeze in the time to also run to my absolute favourite shop in London before closing (see all my posts on experiential learning and you will see why). Then back to my hotel to plan my trip to Oxford for the next day- another bright and early morning!

And so part three of the trip on the 7.20 train from London to Oxford.

Oxford was looking beautiful. First up was getting my readers card for the Weston Library (the Bodleian’s special collections). Again I had emailed in advance to explain why I needed to see the manuscripts and which I hoped to be able to examine.

For this one I needed a passport, driving licence (or proof of address) and staff card for Edinburgh University. I also had to fill out quite an extensive form and read out loud the sign below to the person issuing the cards:

I wanted to see a manuscript here which was a ‘select’ manuscript, so classed as a national treasure. The lovely staff did allow me to photograph it for research purposes only, so I can’t share these, but it was such an amazing experience …

So all in all its was an extremely successful research trip. I’ve managed to look at a good number of case studies for the book project & I think made a slightly intriguing discovery (to work on!). The only major drawback was a missed connection on the return journey which meant that I was extremely late home…

The End [and now to rest organise my images and re-read my notes!].