Inside the conservation studio behind the Shakespeare Recovered exhibition

David Wright introduces the conservation studio behind the Shakespeare Recovered exhibition at Durham University's Palace Green Library in this 360-degree video (drag your mouse around the screen to look around). We also get an insight into the processes of paper preservation and bookbinding, with conservators Katie Brew and Tony King.

In December 1998, the Durham First Folio, a copy of William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies, was stolen along with six other items while on display in Cosin’s Library. For a decade, there was no news of the missing books and Durham University had to accept that the First Folio was lost. But the story didn’t end there.

In 2008, a badly damaged book was brought to the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington D.C. The book was presented to experts as a newly discovered copy of the First Folio that needed authentication for sale. Staff at the Folger quickly recognised the possibility that this book was in fact Durham’s missing copy and after verification it was returned to its rightful home on Palace Green.

This exhibition tells the story of what happened next, exploring the work of our conservation team to make the First Folio accessible again. Visit to see a rare and important cultural artefact and experience a book as you’ve never seen one before.

Find out more: https://www.durham.ac.uk/things-to-do...