One of Scotland’s oldest books, believed plundered by Edward I, to return home
● Contains earliest Gaelic writing, from the 12 century
One of Scotland’ s oldest surviving books which was written by Pictish- era monks and contains the earliest examples of written Gaelic is coming home.
The Book of Deer, which once belonged to along- vanished monastery at Old Deer in Aberdeenshire, will return to the North-east after a deal was struck with Cambridge University, where it has been held for more than 300 years.
The pocket-sized book of Gospels, which was written in Latin on vellum some time between the 8th and 10th centuries, later had Gaelic notes on local land transactions added into its margins.
Some have compared it to the Book of Kells, the richly decorated collection of Gospels that is considered one of Ireland’s greatest cultural treasures.
The Book of Deer Project has successfully negotiated a loan of the book from Cambridge University after many years of talks.
Derek Jennings, vice-chairman of The Book of Deer Project, said: “These are exciting times for us. The Book of Deer is one of Scotland’s most iconic items which has the oldest examples of Scottish Gaelic written on its pages.
“We have had discussions with Cambridge Un iv er sity and they have now agreed that it can go on loan. The discussion now is where we can display it given security will be the most important issue.”
Mr Jennings said the Sir Duncan Rice Library at Aberdeen University was being discussed as a possible venue to display the book, which will
go on show in 2022. However, he added that the project team would ideally like it to be displayed in Old Deer itself, given its links to the lost monastery, which was built around the 6th century.
Mr Jennings said: “Absolutely, we would like it to come to Old Deer. It is said the book was taken by Edward I down to England because of the sway that it held over local people. They have always considered the book to be an important item.”
Some believe the Book of
Deer was actually produced by monk sat the monastery which was associated with St Columba and his disciple Drostan.
In the 12 th century, the monks of Deer used the blank spaces and the margins to add the Gaelic notes, with the entries the earliest continuous examples of written Scots Gaelic.
Dr Michelle Macleod, senior lecturer in Gaelic at the University of Aberdeen, said: “The Book of Deer is a tiny book but it has left a huge legacy for us,
not only in the North-east but for the whole of Scotland. We had to wait another 200 -300 years after the Book of Deer to find any more evidence of written Scottish Gaelic.”
The Book of Deer Project has worked with archaeologists over the past ten years to tr y to find the location of the lost monaster y. A fur ther, major dig is planned for 2022 in a bid to finally lo cate the old religious centre.
Last year, the fo cus of the search switched to land near 12th century Deer Abbey and
found evidence of a much older building beneath the site.
Archaeologists plan to return to investigate further with a Crowd fund er campaign now under way to raise £40,000 to finance the excavation and cover the costs associated with displaying the book in Scotland.
“Air Tòir Manachainn Dhèir (The Lost Monastery of Deer)” will screen on BBC Alba on Wednesday 9 September at 9pm.
“It is said the book was taken by Edward I down to England because of the sway that it held over local people”
DEREK JENNINGS Book of Deer Pro
There is a special kind of magic about ancient artefacts like the Book of Deer, one of Scotland’s oldest surviving books.
A pocket book of gospels that has been compared to the famous Book of Kells in Ireland, it was written between the 8th and 10th century and belonged to a long-lost monastery that once stood at Old Deer in Aberdeenshire.
Fascinatingly, it also contains the oldest examples of written Scottish Gaelic as the margins were used by monks in the 12th century to take notes about local land transactions.
Edward I considered the volume so special that he took it as well as the Stone of Scone back to England.
Now Cambridge University, which has had the Book of Deer for more than 300 years, has agreed to allow it to be displayed in the area in 2022. Meanwhile archaeologists are also hoping to crowdfund enough money to finance an excavation of what may be the monastery.
It would be a serendipitous event if the archaeologists were able to make a significant discovery in time for the arrival of the book and we wish them all the best in their endeavours.