The Morpeth Roll: Ireland identified in 1841
Christopher Ridgway, editor
In 1841, on stepping down as chief secretary, George Howard, Lord Morpeth, received a grand farewell testimonial from the people of Ireland. This took the form of over a quarter of a million signatures on sheets of paper wrapped around a gigantic bobbin; when unwound, the testimonial measures a staggering 420 metres. After decades of lying in obscurity in Castle Howard, North Yorkshire, the Morpeth Roll has been the subject of intense research, digitization and conservation. It is now being seen in public for the
first time in 170 years as part of a touring exhibition throughout Ireland, held in conjunction with The Gathering (2013).
This lavishly illustrated book of essays discusses the significance of the roll, and examines what it can tell us about pre-Famine Ireland. Just how the roll was commissioned and
assembled in a matter of weeks, with signatures collected from across Ireland, is one focus of enquiry; as are the reasons for Morpeth Roll’s extraordinary popularity, which endured when he returned to Dublin as viceroy in the 1850s.
The roll is not only a document of national significance, it is also a unique mechanical object on its winding spool, presenting very special challenges for display and interpretation.
Christopher Ridgway is curator of Castle Howard in Yorkshire and has written and lectured widely on its architecture, gardens and collections.
Paperback . 144pp; colour ills. Summer 2013
ISBN: 978-1-84682-406-7
Retail Price: €9.95
2013–14 Exhibition
An exhibition on the Morpeth Roll will travel throughout Ireland in 2013–14. The exhibition will tell the story of why the roll was created and how it was pieced together.
The exhibition will be hosted in the following venues:
20 Apr. – 12 May 2013 Westport House, Co. Mayo
21 May – 30 June 2013 Derrynane (OPW)
8 July – 11 Aug. 2013 The Main Guard, Clonmel
16 Aug. – 26 Oct. 2013 Kilkenny Castle
1 – 29 Nov. 2013 NUI Maynooth, Co. Kildare
5 Dec. 2013 – 26 Jan. 2014 Naughton Gallery, Queen’s U, Belfast
3 Feb. – 4 Apr. 2014 Dublin Castle