The Word Defiant! Trust New Art at Blickling Estate

We're all about books at Blickling this year. Take a look at the art installation in further detail, why it's so important to Blickling's future and how we're linking the book theme in other areas of the estate.

Lydia Denno, designer, standing in front The Word Defiant!
Blickling Estate   Norfolk

The Word Defiant! at Blickling

The Word Defiant! is an exciting temporary art installation at Blickling that reveals stories of books that have been banned, burned, drowned, superseded, redacted, neglected and those that remain defiant.

Find out more about The Word Defiant!
A close up of a Winnie the Pooh book in a bookshelf

Storytelling Sessions for Banned Books Week | 23-29 September 

To celebrate our freedom to read during Banned Books Week we're holding storytelling sessions in conjunction with The Word Defiant! and focusing on one of our installations, The Word Banned. Find out how you can get involved.

Librarian John Gandy talks to visitors about the book collection

Unlocking the Archive at Blickling Estate 

In partnership with the Unlocking the Archive team at the University of East Anglia, we're offering a variety of free autumn workshops and drop in sessions, giving you the opportunity to get up close to the Renaissance book collection in Blickling's library.

An illustration of books in the Long Gallery spilling out across the floor

A journey through The Word Defiant! 

The Word Defiant! may only be a six month temporary installation, but the concept, preparation, design and installation was a far longer process. Follow the journey through a series of videos that were filmed right through from planning and building to the installation and opening in May.

Burned books lit from above, Blickling, Norfolk

The Word Defiant! Installations 

Find out more about each of the seven installations which make up The Word Defiant! From stories of books that have been banned, redacted and burned to those neglected, superseded, drowned and defiant.

Visitors reading books in one of the National Trust's second-hand bookshops

Get lost in a world of books at Blickling Estate 

With a large focus on books at Blickling this summer, find out how we're working with local independent bookshops and the University of East Anglia to help us with our book related activities. From holiday activity days to secret book trails in the garden, take a look at what we've got planned.

A book eaten by death watch beetle

Linking Blickling's book collection with The Word Defiant! 

Librarian John Gandy gives us examples of how The Word Defiant! installations relate to Blickling's own book collection, and why they desperately need conserving.

Wheelchair and electric mobility scooters at Hidcote
Blickling Estate   Norfolk

Increasing access at Blickling Estate

With the launch of our installation ‘The Word Defiant!’ in May, we’ve been opening up opportunities for people who need extra support, to ensure that as many people as possible are able to experience the art. Take a look at what you’ll find at Blickling Estate this summer to help make your visit more accessible.

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