Digitisation untangles history’s web
21 June 2005
Museum of London conservators are using the latest computer technology to try to reconstruct a model of a stained glass window smashed up on the orders of Henry VIII.
The tangle of lead and glass, dating from the 13th century, comes from a window of the infirmary at Merton Priory on the outskirts of London and is too delicate to unravel by hand. It will go on show in the Museum’s new Medieval London gallery opening in November.
Historians believe the window was destroyed during the Dissolution of the monasteries in 1538, when Merton Priory was demolished and the material was used in the building of Henry VIII’s sumptuous new palace at Nonsuch. Museum of London archaeologists found it lying in a drain among rubble and pieces of roof tile.
The glass no longer bears any decoration, but other examples from the site were coloured and painted with flowers, angels and patterns. When found, this glass was the texture of a thin, crumbly digestive biscuit, making the crumpled web of lead impossible to flatten out.
Robert Payton of the Museum of London’s Conservation Department called in Dr Angela Geary, Senior Research Fellow at Camberwell College of Art, a leading expert in the digitisation of museum objects to see if she could come up with a solution. She describes the project as a fiendish challenge, but, using innovative software programmes to analyse X-rays, she hopes to be able to extract enough information to construct a 3D computer model of the window's original form.
The new Medieval London gallery will display over 1500 objects, including archaeological finds never displayed before. It will cover the period from the end of Roman rule in AD410 to the accession of Elizabeth I in 1558. Highlights will include other significant archaeological finds such as the remains of excavated 13th century Jewish houses from Milk Street, London.
Further press information and images from:
Clea Relly
tel: 020 7814 5503
email: crelly@museumoflondon.org.uk
Fay Ross Magenty
tel: 020 7814 5511
email: fross-magenty@museumoflondon.org.uk
Notes for editors
The Museum of London is the only museum to tell the story of London from pre-historic times to the present day. Find out what Romans ate for dinner, experience the Great Fire of London, go window-shopping in our Victorian walkway and be amazed by the magnificent Lord Mayor’s coach. Admission is free.
To hear about our exciting events programme and start exploring London’s history and the histories of Londoners visit www.museumoflondon.org.uk or call 0870 444 3851.