‘Important and beautiful’ 13th-century Bible returns to Salisbury

Sarum Master Bible goes on display at town's cathedral later this month after being in private hands for almost 800 years

Almost eight centuries after it was crafted in a workshop in Salisbury, the Sarum Master Bible, a vividly illustrated medieval manuscript, has returned home and will go on display at the city's cathedral this month.

Measuring just 17cm by 11.5cm, the book is an early example of a portable Bible, the Latin script so small it can be can be challenge to read and the parchment so thin that the pages have to be turned with extreme care.