16th Century Gardening Manual, Secret War Maps, and Football Fanzines in British Library's 2025 Exhibitions

The lineup of the British Library's major exhibitions next year includes an exploration of the transformative, enriching and radical power of gardening in Britain, as well as the relationship between mapping and secrecy in a global context between the 9th and 21st centuries.

Gardening (running May 2 through August 10, 2025
) will present items ranging from the only surviving illustrated collection of herbal remedies from Anglo-Saxon England and the first gardening manual printed in 1564 alongside paintings, pamphlets and richly illustrated botanical works. It reveal how gardening has contributed to social and political change throughout history.

Secret Maps (running October 10, 2025 - January 18, 2026
) will focus on the relationship between mapping and secrecy in a global context between the 9th and 21st centuries. On display will be a secret Ordnance Survey map, copies of which were later destroyed, produced ahead of the General Strike of 1926 illustrating potential weak spots in the case of civil unrest. Maps used by governments in international conflicts will also feature, including a map of part of the Normandy coast produced in 1944 in the weeks leading up to D-Day. On the once top secret invasion plan can be seen detailed information about German defences, gathered from intelligence sources including low-level flying missions, special services agents and the French resistance. 

Voice of the Fans will be co-produced with Leeds Libraries and opens on May 8 at Leeds Central Library until August 10.  From zines to blogs, podcasts and recordings of terrace chants, this free exhibition will explore how football fans have made their voice heard within the beautiful game. It will look at how media created by fans developed from the 1970s onwards, and how they became an important aspect of football.