Unfolding Time Talk

Free talk – Unfolding Time in the Rashleigh Calendar

Join us for a fascinating talk on Tuesday 14 April, 2-3.30pm – Unfolding Time in the Rashleigh Calendar: a medieval concertina-fold book.

Concertina-fold almanacs are a rare and remarkable type of medieval book, with fewer than thirty manuscript examples known to survive. Unlike most books, they contain very little text. Instead, time is vividly expressed in colourful pictures, tables and devices. The Rashleigh calendar, cared for here at Kresen Kernow, is one of the most compelling examples. Unfolded it measures an impressive 2.4 metres. Folded, it is little bigger than a wallet. Designed to be portable, it is now worn and incredibly fragile.

In spring 2025, the Rashleigh calendar travelled to Lambeth Palace Library in London, where it featured in Unfolding Time: the first exhibition to bring a group of these concertinas together.

Facsimiles allowed visitors to explore these complex books hands-on, without any risk to the precious originals. Join curator Dr Sarah Griffin to hear about the Rashleigh calendar and what the Unfolding Time team has learnt about its concertina relatives, with the opportunity to handle the facsimiles, ask questions and maybe even see the original.

This event follows an online talk ‘Time Unfolded’ hosted by Kresen Kernow in 2022, when Drs Megan McNamee and Sarah Griffin discussed their preliminary research on the Rashleigh calendar.

We are also running two bookable, family workshops where everyone can make their own zigzag calendars. See the Kresen Kernow online what’s on for more details.

The talk is free, but please book your tickets on our Ticket Tailor page.

This event is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Friends of Lambeth Palace Library.