Gladstone's Library, known until 2010 as St Deiniol's Library (Welsh: Llyfrgell Deiniol Sant), is a residential library in Hawarden, Flintshire, Wales, UK.[1]
The library was founded by William Gladstone in 1894. He was eager to share his personal library with others, especially those who faced financial constraint.[3] He would allow bright children and young adults of the village of Hawarden to use his collection. His daughter Mary Gladstone said that his desire was to "bring together books who had no readers with readers who had no books".[4][5]
In 1895, at the age of 85, William Gladstone gave £40,000 to the library as well as much of his own book collection. With the help of his daughter and his valet, he wheeled 32,000 books three quarters of a mile (1.2km) between his home at Hawarden Castle and the library. He unpacked them and put them onto shelves using his own classification system.
In a diary entry dated 23 December 1895, he described the library's founding: "I have this day constituted my trust at St Deiniol's. The cost of the work has been I think £41 to £42000, including some charges of maintenance to Dec. 31. 95. May God of His mercy prosper it."[6]
Following his death in 1898, a public appeal was launched for funds to provide a permanent building to house the collection and replace the temporary structure. The £9,000 raised provided an imposing building, designed by John Douglas, which was officially opened by Earl Spencer on 14 October 1902 as the National Memorial to W.E. Gladstone.[7] The Gladstone family fulfilled the founder's vision by funding the residential wing, which welcomed its first resident on 29 June 1906.
Media related to Gladstone's Library at Wikimedia Commons
Official website
Gladstone Library, Collections and Archive website
U.S. Friends of Gladstone's Library
July 03, 2023
gladstone, library, known, until, 2010, deiniol, library, welsh, llyfrgell, deiniol, sant, residential, library, hawarden, flintshire, wales, 1859, 0272, 1859, 0272locationhawarden, flintshire, wales, united, kingdomestablished1895, years, 1895, architect, joh. Gladstone s Library known until 2010 as St Deiniol s Library Welsh Llyfrgell Deiniol Sant is a residential library in Hawarden Flintshire Wales UK 1 Gladstone s Library53 11 09 N 3 01 38 W 53 1859 N 3 0272 W 53 1859 3 0272LocationHawarden Flintshire Wales United KingdomEstablished1895 128 years ago 1895 Architect s John Douglas CollectionSize250 000 Access and useAccess requirementsOpen to anyone with a need to use the collections and servicesOther informationDirectorAndrea Russell 2023 Employees18Websitehttp www gladstoneslibrary orgGladstone s Library Gladstone s statue in the library Gladstone s Library staff at the School of Advanced Study History Day 2017 Gladstone s Library is Britain s only Prime Ministerial Library and the national memorial to William Ewart Gladstone 2 It is home to a collection of more than 250 000 printed items including theological historical cultural and political materials Contents 1 History 2 Facilities 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditThe library was founded by William Gladstone in 1894 He was eager to share his personal library with others especially those who faced financial constraint 3 He would allow bright children and young adults of the village of Hawarden to use his collection His daughter Mary Gladstone said that his desire was to bring together books who had no readers with readers who had no books 4 5 In 1895 at the age of 85 William Gladstone gave 40 000 to the library as well as much of his own book collection With the help of his daughter and his valet he wheeled 32 000 books three quarters of a mile 1 2km between his home at Hawarden Castle and the library He unpacked them and put them onto shelves using his own classification system In a diary entry dated 23 December 1895 he described the library s founding I have this day constituted my trust at St Deiniol s The cost of the work has been I think 41 to 42000 including some charges of maintenance to Dec 31 95 May God of His mercy prosper it 6 Following his death in 1898 a public appeal was launched for funds to provide a permanent building to house the collection and replace the temporary structure The 9 000 raised provided an imposing building designed by John Douglas which was officially opened by Earl Spencer on 14 October 1902 as the National Memorial to W E Gladstone 7 The Gladstone family fulfilled the founder s vision by funding the residential wing which welcomed its first resident on 29 June 1906 Facilities EditThe library is a Grade I listed building 8 and a registered charity 9 The library contains over 150 000 books pamphlets and journals 10 The building includes several reading rooms 26 bedrooms a guest lounge cafe and restaurant The library runs regular tours talks workshops masterclasses and residential courses 11 See also EditDr Williams s Library in London List of non ecclesiastical and non residential works by John DouglasReferences Edit McClarence Stephen 8 September 2018 Read walk and relax in a Welsh literary hideaway The Times Retrieved 17 September 2018 Pritchard T W 1999 A History of St Deiniol s Library Hawarden Wales Monad Press ISBN 9780907450283 Gladstone s Library Hawarden Independent Libraries Association Retrieved 31 March 2023 The joy of rummaging through Gladstone s annotated books The Spectator Retrieved 31 March 2023 Librarian Resources website H C G Matthew ed The Gladstone Diaries Volume XIII 1892 1896 1994 Oxford Clarendon Press p 432 The Hawarden Memorial to Mr Gladstone The Times No 36898 London 14 October 1902 p 7 St Deiniol s Library Hawarden Cadw retrieved 20 December 2016 Gladstone s Library registered charity no 701399 Charity Commission for England and Wales Visit Wales website Gladstone Library official websiteExternal links Edit Media related to Gladstone s Library at Wikimedia Commons Official website Gladstone Library Collections and Archive website U S Friends of Gladstone s Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gladstone 27s Library amp oldid 1158466081, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
