Inside Peterborough Cathedral’s hidden library that’s off-limits to the public and can only be accessed by a tiny spiral staircase

Dating back more than 800 years, Peterborough Cathedral is without doubt the jewel in the city’s skyline and attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year.

Much of the Cathedral - including its majestic Nave - can be freely explored by members of the public, but certain areas are off limits to visitors.

Its library and archives, hidden away in a small room just above the main entrance, certainly falls into that category.

Located in the Cathedral’s former Trinity Chapel, the library was founded in 1672 and houses thousands of religious texts, documents and books spanning hundreds of years.

The library is managed by Reverend Canon Dr Rowan Williams (not the former Archbishop of Canterbury) and a small army of volunteers who dedicate dozens of hours a week to preserving its many rare artefacts.

While the majority of the library’s pre-1800 books and documents are now safely kept in Cambridge University’s Rare Books collection, those that do remain provide an invaluable insight into the history of the Cathedral and Peterborough more broadly.

Boasting a beautiful hand-carved wooden roof, the small library covers two floors and looks directly over the Cathedral precincts.

The library is accessible only via a small stone spiral staircase adjacent to the main entrance; a door that very few visitors know leads to such a historical room.

Entry to the library is permitted through invitation only, but there are hopes that public tours taking in the unique space could launch later this year.

The Peterborough Telegraph was recently granted rare access to the library, and photos of our visit can be found in the gallery below: