The Leighton Library, or Bibliotheca Leightoniana, in The Cross, Dunblane

Dunblane

Dunblane is a small cathedral city and former burgh north of Stirling in the Stirling council area of Scotland. The town is situated off the A9 road, on the way north to Perth. Its main landmark is Dunblane Cathedral and the Allan Water runs through the town centre, with the Cathedral and the High...

, is the oldest purpose built library

Library

In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...

 in Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

. Its collection of around 4000 volumes and 78 manuscripts from the 16th to 19th century is founded on the personal collection of Robert Leighton

Robert Leighton (prelate)

Robert Leighton was a Scottish prelate and scholar, best known as a church minister, Bishop of Dunblane, Archbishop of Glasgow, and Principal of the University of Edinburgh from 1653 to 1662. He was "noted for his Christian piety, his humility and gentleness, and his devotion to his...

 (1611–1684), Bishop

Bishop

A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...

 of Dunblane and Archbishop

Archbishop

An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...

 of Glasgow

Glasgow

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...

, who had left the books to Dunblane Cathedral

Dunblane Cathedral

Dunblane Cathedral is the larger of the two Church of Scotland parish churches serving Dunblane, near the city of Stirling, in central Scotland.-History:...

.

Building

The library was built with a legacy of £100 from the late Archbishop Leighton. Despite scavenging building materials from the nearby Cathedral

Cathedral

A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...

 and Bishop's Palace

Bishop's palace

Bishop's Palace may refer to the official residence of any bishop, such as those listed in the :Category:Episcopal palaces.Specific residences called Bishop's Palace include:* Bishop's Palace, Castres, France...

, the total cost of the building works was £162 2s. 6d, which was met by the executors of the Archbishop's estate.

The two-storey building, with fore-stair, was completed in 1687. The building is one long wood lined apartment with two stone vaults below. It is lit by windows to the South and West.

At the beginning of the 20th century the building had fallen into neglect and was affected by damp and, during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, an air-raid shelter was constructed within its vaults. During the 1950s and 1980s renovation, repair, and cataloging was carried out, and the library was officially re-opened in May 1990.

External links

• Leighton Library Collection at Stirling University
• Dunblane Cathedral Online