Episode 343 - Inside the Scriptorium: Medieval Manuscripts and their Makers with Dr Sara Charles

Talking Tudors

Natalie Grueninger

History

4.7 • 967 Ratings

🗓️ 4 May 2026

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode host Natalie Grueninger speaks with Dr Sara Charles about the production of medieval manuscripts, her hands-on experiments with parchment, inks and pigments, and her book 'The Medieval Scriptorium'. They explore the evidence for where manuscripts were made, the people and long supply chains behind their materials, the evolution of scripts and decoration, and the everyday details that bring medieval scribes to life. Learn more about Dr Charles https://www.teachingmanuscripts.com/about Takeaway 'The Craftman's Handbook' by Cennino d'Andrea Cennin Find out about 'Medieval Castles in Germany' by Kurt Fuchs https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/1691602354/medieval-castles-in-germany?ref=listings_manager_grid&lang_mismatch=1 Learn more about your host: https://www.nataliegrueninger.com Support Talking Tudors on Patreon!

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hello and welcome to Talking Tudors, a podcast about the ever fascinating Tudor dynasty.
0:06.8	My name is Natalie Gruniger and I'll be your host and guide on this journey through 16th century England.
0:13.5	Are you ready to step through the veil of time into the dazzling and dangerous world of the Tudor Court?
0:19.4	Without further ado, it's time to talk Tudors.
0:26.5	A message from the sponsor of today's episode. Castles are the symbols of the middle ages in
0:32.3	Europe. They bring to mind pictures of brave knights and beautiful maidens and of heroic fights and romance. The reality
0:39.5	was much more prosaic, though. Only very wealthy people could afford to own a castle, as building
0:45.1	one required great effort. No machinery was available at the time. Everything had to be done by hand.
0:51.3	Every single stone had to be carved into its required form by a stone mason. All material needed to be done by hand, every single stone had to be carved into its required form by a stone
0:55.4	mason. All material needed to be transported by men or animals, often over long distances.
1:01.8	Find out more about these medieval structures in the book medieval castles in Germany. The beautifully
1:07.9	illustrated book is over 200 pages long and features 15 of the most iconic and stunning castles in Germany.
1:15.5	It also contains 150 images and would make the perfect gift for the lover of medieval history.
1:22.7	I'd also like to acknowledge and thank the generous listeners who continue to support Talking Tudors on Patreon
1:28.1	and extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who's taken the time to rate and review the show.
1:33.6	As an independent podcaster, this means a lot to me. If you love the podcast, if you never miss an
1:39.4	episode, please consider joining the Talking Tudors Patreon community. Visit patreon.com forward slash talking tutors for more information.
1:47.9	Once you sign up, you'll have access to exclusive posts, additional monthly live talks,
1:52.4	a member-only book club, patron-only monthly giveaways to name just a few of the rewards.
1:57.8	Now, on to today's episode.
1:59.7	I'm thrilled to welcome Dr. Sarah Charles to the show
2:02.7	to talk about the production of medieval manuscripts and her book, The Medieval Scriptorium.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Natalie Grueninger, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Natalie Grueninger and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.