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Concept
Leighton Library
Summary
The Leighton Library, or Bibliotheca Leightoniana, in The Cross, Dunblane, is the oldest purpose built library in Scotland and also has a well-documented history as one of the earliest public subscription libraries in Scotland. Its collection of around 4000 volumes and 78 manuscripts from the 16th to 19th century is founded on the personal collection of Robert Leighton (1611–1684), Minister at Newbattle, Principal of Edinburgh University, Bishop of Dunblane and Archbishop of Glasgow. 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.
Archbishop Robert Leighton died on June the 25th, 1684, in London. His will written on 17 February 1683, left a small token to his sister and her son, Saphira and Edward Lightmaker of Broadhurst. They jointly became executors to Robert's will and carried out his wishes to have his books bequeathed to Dunblane Cathedral. Edward wrote to the Bishop of Dunblane on the 8th of 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. Archbishop Leighton had died with very little money so the cost of the building came directly from his nephew, Edward wrote to the Bishop that the Archbishop had thought to repurpose the stone from the Bishop's ruined house and the wall around the church.
The library was completed in 1687, with Dr James Fall the Principal of the University of Glasgow coming to inspect the building erected in his friend's memory. 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.
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. 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.
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