As if by wizardry...

Found him! The hand drawn in the margin points to the name Gundulf (Gundulfus), the bishop of Rochester who also built Rochester Castle. Textus Roffensis, folio 173r, detail. COPYRIGHTED IMAGE. By permission of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester Cathedral.

Yesterday, I cast my humble gaze over and opened up my equally humble ears to the delights of a new short film produced for the 'Hidden Treasures, Fresh Expressions' exhibition, due to open at Rochester Cathedral in early 2016.

The film is about the work of the scribe who produced the twelfth-century codex known as Textus Roffensis (The text of Rochester), one of the most important manuscripts in Britain for what it reveals about English society and law in the early medieval period (c.600-c.1100).

Dr Monk, my twenty-first-century alter ego, wrote and performed the narration for the film, and he didn't let the side down. But the real magic lies in the wizardry of FUZZY DUCK, the film production company based at Media City in Salford Quays (North West of England).

From where those fellows get their enchanted gifts of visual manipulation I wouldn't like to say, but the result is a wondrous, close-up exploration of the codex's marvellous scribal peculiarities.

I'm afraid that's all I can tell you for now, as all is wrapped up in a shroud of secrecy.  I will reveal details of the exhibition as soon as Dr Monk is forthcoming.  As things stand, it is due to open January/ February 2016.

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Certain documents in Textus Roffensis are marked by symbols such as this black and red Chi Rho (the monogram of Christ), which has the Greek letter alpha ('A') inside the letter rho ('P'). Textus Roffensis, folio 159v. COPYRIGHTED IMAGE. By permission of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester Cathedral.