Llanbeblig Book of Hours

Books of Hours were amongst the most popular texts of the Middle Ages in Western Europe. They were created in their tens of thousands and many survive in libraries and private collections across the world. Books of Hours enabled pious lay people to observe a private programme of regular daily devotion at home, following the Church's liturgy where the day was divided into eight sections or 'hours'. Prayers were specified for each of these hours, with a calendar noting feast days and celebrations. Many of the manuscripts were highly illuminated with images of the saints, the Virgin Mary, and Christ.

This manuscript probably dates from the period 1390-1400. Evidence to connect the manuscript with Caernarfon can be found in the Calendar, as the celebration of the dedication of the church of St. Peblig is noted. The original owner was possibly Isabella Godynogh (d. 1413) whose obituary has been inserted in the Calendar for April 23rd.

In addition to the 'Hours of the Virgin,' the Llanbeblig Hours contains a number of remarkable features, such as a very rare 'Lily Crucifixion' illumination and a number of entries of Welsh interest in the Calendar.