Leighton Library Restoration
If you'd like to donate to the Leighton Library Restoration Appeal please click on this link to the Leighton Library Restoration Appeal JustGiving page
A message from Richard Deacon CBE, Turner Prize Winning Sculptor
"The Leighton Library is a little jewel, vitally important in the history of Scottish learning and, as the first purpose-built library in Scotland, a marker for the public spread of knowledge. Humble on the outside, it is rather like Dr Who's Tardis with riches within, enabling travel in time and space. It would be a tragedy for it not to be maintained"
March 2024 - Restoration Work is almost complete
From the start in January 2023, it was anticipated restoration work would take around six months. However, once the 1990s cement-based harling was removed, it became evident that the building was in much worse condition than we hoped, as the harling had trapped moisture within the walls. This more than doubled the time required and resulted in a significant rise in costs.
The work involved removing the existing modern cement based harling from all four walls, rebuilding the north chimney and repairing the bulging wall underneath it, repairing the south chimney, repairing the slate roof with matching old Scots tiles sourced locally, restoring the missing crowsteps on the south gable and generally repairing stone work, doors and windows.
As of March 2024, the exterior restoration has been completed. The building is now watertight, but needs to dry out before any lime harling can be applied. This may take up to two more years.
The marble cartouche has been carefully restored and will be reinstated in place in the Spring of 2024. The book collection will start to come back in April.
What do we need the money for?
The building is as important as the books -it was built to house them in 1687 and it now needs repair to the fabric:
- Replace the cement based harling and replace with breathable lime harl
- Take down and repair the marble cartouche
- Repair the roof, leadwork and rainwater system
- Repair the stonework, windows and doors
- Restore the Undercroft to become a visitor/exhibition/performance space
- It is estimated the repair costs will be around £500,000
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Donations gratefully received to date: Total £447,052
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Historic Environment Scotland | £188,000 |
| Miss Geraldine Goddard bequest | £100,000 |
| J Malcolm Allan | £2,000 |
| Western Ferries (Clyde) Ltd | £1,500 |
| Clackmannanshire & Stirling Environmental Trust | £22,500 |
| HR Creswick's Charitable Trust | £35,000 |
| Mrs Geraldine Kirkpatrick's Charitable Trust | £1,500 |
| Miss Willimina Walpole Bequest | £500 |
| Stafford Trust | £5,000 |
| Dunblane Windfarm | £1,500 |
| Pilgrim Trust | £30,000 |
| Local Fundraising | £4,773 |
| PayPal donations | £769 |
| The Dalrymple Donaldson Fund | £4,000 |
| Just Giving | £2,260 |
| The Tay Charitable Trust | £2,000 |
| The Swire Charitable Trust | £10,000 |
| The Barrack Charitable Trust | £1,250 |
| Other donations | £10,500 |
| Binks Trust | £2,000 |
| The Dunclay Charitable Trust | £1,000 |
| The Aurelius Charitable Trust | £2,000 |
| The Turtleton Charitable Trust | £20,000 |
Leighton Library has a 1769 edition of "An Inquiry into the Human Mind on the Principles of Common Sense" by Thomas Reid
Added by Leighton Library at 06:28 on 26 April 2024