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All the United Kingdom Scotland Dunblane Leighton Library

Leighton Library

The oldest library in Scotland was built from the remains of a church to hold a churchman's library.

Dunblane, Scotland

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Duncan Chappell
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Leighton Library   duncanchappell
The simple building has been refurbished in recent years.   Geograph
The explanatory plaque outside the building.   duncanchappell
View of the town.   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
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Leighton Library   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Fabric bound books.   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
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Robert Leighton   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Library steps.   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Update June 2023: The library is currently closed for renovations.

With nothing more than one long wooden hall and two stone vaults below, the Leighton Library in Dunblane, Scotland is not the most imposing collection of written works in the world, but its collection of donated works has the distinction of being the first library in Scotland.

Built in 1687, the building was the first location in Scotland built for the specific purpose of being a library. In his will, Robert Leighton, then Bishop of Dunblane, allocated money for the construction of a library for use by his diocese. After his death, the library was dutifully constructed using materials from nearby church ruins and Leighton's library of religious texts was given over to the site. The building itself is designed with nothing more than an elevated main hall and a stone undercroft which was meant to house the first librarians. The simple building survived down the centuries, retaining its original purpose, although the sturdy stone basement was used as a bomb shelter during World War II.

After multiple renovations (but no expansions) the Leighton Library now houses over 4000 volumes and over 70 manuscripts that date between the 16th and 19th centuries. Visitors are even able to handle some of the texts under the watchful eye of one of the library's curators. If only all of our book collections could be so well cared for.    

 

 

 

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Added By

duncanchappell

Edited By

hrnick, Jaszmina Szendrey, EricGrundhauser, SEANETTA

  • hrnick
  • Jaszmina Szendrey
  • EricGrundhauser
  • SEANETTA

Published

September 23, 2012

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  • http://www.leightonlibrary.co.uk/
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leighton_Library
  • http://www.visitscotland.com/en-us/info/services/leighton-library-p232861
Leighton Library
61 High Street
Dunblane, Scotland, FK15 0EH
United Kingdom
56.188197, -3.964344
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