Innerpeffray Library

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Innerpeffray Library

Innerpeffray Library is a historic subscription library and was the first lending library in Scotland.[1] It is located in the hamlet of Innerpeffray, by the River Earn in Perth and Kinross, 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Crieff. The library building is Category A listed.[2]

Since 1694 the collection has been administered and maintained by the Governors of the Innerpeffray Mortification, a registered charity under Scottish law.[3]

Innerpeffray consists of an early complete and very important group of educational and religious buildings, all founded, built or rebuilt by the Drummond family of Strathearn.

The library was founded by David Drummond, 3rd Lord Madertie (died 1692), before 1680, when he made 400 of his family books available to the public. The library was originally located in the loft of St Mary's Chapel, and moved into a purpose-built library house in 1762. This was built by Robert Hay Drummond (1711–1776), Archbishop of York from 1761 to 1776, and a descendent of Lord Madertie, who also donated his book collection on his death. The library ceased lending in 1968, but remains open to the public several days a week, except for November to February.[1] Hours of operation are Wednesday through Saturday 10am-12:45pm and 2pm-4:45pm and Sundays from 2pm-4pm.[4]

The library has a continuous borrowing record from 1747 to 1968.[citation needed] Book inspection is still free but entrance is charged so that the Governors of the Innerpeffray Mortification can maintain the buildings and conserve the collections in good condition.[citation needed]

When Lord Madertie built and endowed his school and library pre 1680, his 400 books contained all the knowledge in the world, in English, Latin, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. By the time he died in 1776, Archbishop Robert's collection of books on law, history/geography, maths (Newton), agriculture, the enlightenment, and social comment, had similar breadth.

There are several notable historical manuscripts in the library's collection. Among the rare books of value is the Bible of the Marquis of Montrose, bearing his autograph in several places.[5] The leaves of the Bible also contain a number of mottoes or extracts, copied by the Marquis, and taken from Horace and other classical authors.[5] There is another notable Bible in the library, which belonged to the Marquis's sister, who was married to the founder of the library (Lord Madertie). Known as her State Bible, is bound in crimson velvet, and dated 1638.[5] There is also a copy of what is called the Great Bible, dated 1540, which has two full-page woodcuts by Holbein, the artist of Henry VIII of England.[5] Many additional historical bibles and psalters remain in the collection, as do several old maps and atlases. Copies of old newspapers also form part of the collection. The library remains a valuable storehouse of literature from the late Medieval and Early Modern periods, and has been visited for many generations, despite its somewhat isolated location.[5]

The Keeper of Books (now Library Manager), an office held continuously since Andrew Patoune in 1692, lives in the schoolhouse (rebuilt 1847). The six sash windows of the attached schoolroom light its interior for meetings of Friends and visiting schoolchildren. The Keeper also holds the key of the Collegiate Chapel of St Mary, at Her Majesty's pleasure. By 1508, John 1st Lord Drummond rebuilt this renaissance triple cube with its oblong windows, stately proportions, wall and ceiling paintings, Drummond family hatchments and medieval stone altar. David Lord Madertie rebuilt the west end, pre - 1680, over the arch to house his library in an upper room. Access is free, occasional tours provided. Historic Scotland authorises weddings. The Library's Friends (and local schools) stage musical and dramatic events.

The location is a very tranquil raised promontory among some beech woodland above the River Earn. A fording point across the river can still be used, on what is the line of a Roman Road.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Innerpeffray Mortification, Registered Charity no. SC013843 at the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 The Ancient Library at Innerpeffray. (1890). The Scottish Antiquary, or, Northern Notes and Queries, Vol. 5, No. 18 (1890), pp. 53-54. Published by Edinburgh University Press.

Further reading

  • Chronicles of Innerpeffray by Anne Edgar, also "St Mary's Chapel", "The Lords Madertie" and "Captain Robert Hay Drummond, a Crimea Officer", three booklets by the same Author, Keeper and Librarian 2005–2009.
  • "Publicity Information on Innerpeffray, 365 words" by CM Edgar MA PGCE, joint Keeper 2005-2009 and, by courtesy of the Earl of Perth, Lay Provost of St Mary's (short title, honour still held by CME).

External links

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