# Leighton Library

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Leighton Library
| alternate_names = Bibliotheca Leightoniana
| image = The Leighton Library, Dunblane - geograph.org.uk - 242542.jpg
| location_town = Dunblane
| location_country = Scotland
| coordinates = {{coord|56.189|-3.965|display=inline,title|region:GB_scale:5000}}
| completion_date = 1687
| website = http://www.leightonlibrary.org.uk/
| pushpin_map =
| embedded={{infobox designation list
| embed               = yes
| designation1        = Category A
| designation1_date   = 5 October 1971
| designation1_number = {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB26371|short=yes}}
}}
}}thumb|Archbishop Robert Leighton, 1611-84
thumb|Leighton Library, Dunblane. Internal shot of the bookcases and display units.
The '''Leighton Library''', or '''Bibliotheca Leightoniana''', in The Cross, [Dunblane](/source/Dunblane), is the oldest purpose-built [library](/source/library) in [Scotland](/source/Scotland) and also has a well-documented history as one of the earliest public-subscription libraries in Scotland.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=The Leighton Library, Dunblane: Its History and Contents|last=Willis|first=Gordon|publisher=The Bibliotheck|year=1981|location=University of Stirling Library Special Collections|pages=139–154}}</ref> Its collection of around 4,000 volumes and 78 manuscripts from the 16th to 19th century is founded on the personal collection of [Robert Leighton](/source/Robert_Leighton_(prelate)) (1611–1684), Minister at [Newbattle](/source/Newbattle), [Principal of Edinburgh University](/source/Principal_of_Edinburgh_University), [Bishop of Dunblane](/source/Bishop_of_Dunblane) and [Archbishop of Glasgow](/source/Archbishop_of_Glasgow).<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Bibliotheca Leightoniana|last=Coupar|first=W. J.|year=1917|location=University of Stirling|pages=1–17}}</ref> Robert Leighton's personal collection consisted of 1,400 books and the Leighton Library was built to host the books which had been left to [Dunblane Cathedral](/source/Dunblane_Cathedral).<ref name=":0" />

==History==
Archbishop Robert Leighton died in London on 25 June 1684.<ref name=":1" /> His will, written on 17 February 1683, left a small token to his sister and her son, Saphira and Edward Lightmaker of Broadhurst.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book|title=Only my books...|last=Allan|first=J. Malcolm|publisher=University of Stirling Bibliographical Society|year=1985|location=University of Stirling|pages=9–18}}</ref> They jointly became executors to Leighton's will and carried out his wishes to have his books bequeathed to Dunblane Cathedral.<ref name=":1" /> Edward wrote to the Bishop of Dunblane on 8 July to inform him that the books were ready to be transported by sea and that a sum of £100 had been put aside for the building of a chamber to house the books.<ref name=":1" />

The library was completed in 1687, with Dr James Fall, the [Principal of the University of Glasgow](/source/Principal_of_the_University_of_Glasgow), coming to inspect the building erected in his friend's memory.<ref name=":1" /> The total cost of the works was £162 2s. 6d. sterling, which included the payment for more land for the foundations of the building and was paid for by the Lightmakers.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="Barty">The History of Dunblane, Alexander B Barty, 1994, {{ISBN|1-870542-29-0}}</ref>

The Lightmakers also donated a sum of £200 to provide a salary for the librarian and also to go towards the upkeep of the library.<ref name="Barty" /> The oldest book in Leighton's collection was a copy of Herbert's Exquisitio, which is dated 1504. Other books of interest include the works Justin Martyr, Walton's Biblia Polyglotta in six volumes and the works of St Augustine.<ref name="Barty" />

There have been donations of books to the library over the years. Shortly after it opened, it received a large donation from James Turner of Dunblane.<ref name=":1" /> In the early 18th century, another large donation came from Thomas Hislop; these included several 17th-century books. Other donors include Dr David Laing and George Paton.<ref name=":1" />

== Public subscription ==
The trustees of the Leighton Library voted to offer the service of a public subscription to the library on 31 October 1734.<ref name=":2" /> The first to pay for the service were two of the trustees, [Sir James Campbell](/source/Sir_James_Campbell%2C_2nd_Baronet%2C_of_Ardkinglass) and [Sir Hugh Paterson](/source/Sir_Hugh_Paterson%2C_2nd_Baronet), with each of them giving £3.<ref name=":2" /> Although the readership contained small numbers, the high quality of the collection meant that there was constant support from the gentry, professionals and the clergy.<ref name=":2" />

It was in the 19th century that the library had a rise in numbers; this was due to the mineral wells that had been discovered on the Cromlix Estate in 1813.<ref name=":2" /> During the period where the wells had many visitors, the trustees offered a temporary membership to the library for 2s. 6d. a fortnight.<ref name=":2" /> By 1831, the subscription to the library had risen to 10s. 6d. for full members.<ref name=":2" /> Dunblane was over-shadowed by Bridge of Allan for its water, and the library struggled to keep its readers: by 1843, the subscription to the library had fallen to 5s.<ref name=":2" />

== Bibliotheca Leightoniana ==
The two-storey building consists of one apartment which is entered from a stone staircase, beneath the apartment are two vaults which have previously been used as a plasterer's store and at a later point as a painter's store.<ref name="Barty" /> The library is lit by three windows, two to the west of the building and one to the south, it is a wood lined library with sixteen bookcases lining the walls and low presses for books stand in the centre of the room.<ref name="Barty" /><ref name=":0" /> The fore-stair into the building had originally run from east to west but at the start of the 19th century it was changed to run north to south.<ref name="Barty" />

During the period of 1842-1870, the library was briefly opened for general reading,<ref name="Barty" /> and was then closed from the mid 1850s.<ref name=":0" /> At the beginning of the 20th century the building had fallen into neglect and was affected by damp and, during [World War II](/source/World_War_II), an air-raid shelter was constructed within its vaults.  During the 1950s and 1980s renovation, repair, and cataloguing was carried out, and the library was officially re-opened in May 1990.<ref name="Barty" /> The library's collection has grown from 1,400 books to 4,500 books.<ref name=":0" /> The library was given listed status as of 5 October 1971, and is a category A [listed building](/source/listed_building).<ref name=":0">{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB26371|desc=THE CROSS, LEIGHTON LIBRARY|cat=A|access-date=20 December 2018}}</ref><ref>[https://www.historicenvironment.scot/about-us/news/scotland-s-oldest-purpose-built-library-awarded-conservation-grant-from-heritage-body/ Scotland’s oldest purpose-built library awarded conservation grant from heritage body], [Historic Environment Scotland](/source/Historic_Environment_Scotland), 17 November 2023</ref>

==See also==
* [List of Category A listed buildings in Stirling](/source/List_of_Category_A_listed_buildings_in_Stirling)
* [List of listed buildings in Dunblane](/source/List_of_listed_buildings_in_Dunblane)

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.leightonlibrary.org.uk/ Leighton Library, Dunblane Website] 
*[http://libguides.stir.ac.uk/c.php?g=530467&p=3628592 Leighton Library Collection] at [Stirling University](/source/Stirling_University)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110526081157/http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/Associated-Organisations/Leighton-Library.html Dunblane Cathedral Online]
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Category:Libraries in Scotland
Category:Category A listed buildings in Stirling (council area)
Category:Tourist attractions in Stirling (council area)
Category:Listed buildings in Dunblane
Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1687
Category:Library buildings completed in the 17th century
Category:1687 establishments in Scotland

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Leighton Library](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leighton_Library) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leighton_Library?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.