Unfolding Time invited visitors to explore medieval concepts of the past, present and future through a rare and remarkable group of manuscripts: concertina-fold almanacs. Within the zigzag folds of these extraordinary books, time is vividly expressed in colourful pictures, poems, tables and devices.

With fewer than thirty manuscripts known to exist, this exhibition (14 February – 15 May 2025) brought a group of them together for the first time and set them alongside treasures from Lambeth Palace Library.

Digital Exhibition

Explore the gallery by clicking on the floor to move through the space, and select the circular tags to learn more about the exhibition themes (purple), objects (blue), and details (green). 

Looking for something specific? Use the magnifying glass icon in the top left corner to search the exhibition.

Video Resources

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Marking Time Across Cultures

Alongside the Unfolding Time exhibition, Lambeth Palace Library invites visitors to reflect on the different methods and objects used to mark time in their own communities, classrooms, and households.

Do you have an object or image you associate with keeping track of time? Then take a photo and submit it to our online gallery. 

Events

The free events programme for Unfolding Time included:

20 March: Anne Lawrence-Mathers, Prediction, Prognostication – or Divination? The Medieval Calendar as a Guide to the Future (online and in person)

10 April: Megan McNamee, Light and Labour in Late Medieval Concertina-Fold Almanacs (online only)

22 April: Seb Falk, Moons, Miracles, and Magic: What’s in a Medieval Calendar? (online and in person)

2 May: Concertina-Fold Books across Time, Space and Cultures Symposium (online and in person)

3 May: Sarah Griffin, Exhibition Curator’s Talk: Unfolding Time (in person only)

About Our Funders

Unfolding Time was made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we were able to bring these precious manuscripts together, and make them freely accessible to the public.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.

Generous additional support came from the Friends of Lambeth Palace Library.