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Leighton Library, Dunblane

Scotland's oldest purpose-built independent library founded in 1687

Welcome to Dunblane's historic Leighton Library

PatronThe Rt Hon. the Lord Robertson of Port Ellen KT

 

From Saturday 26 October 2024 until Saturday 21 December the Leighton Library is open only on Saturdays 11am-4pm. Free admission (donations invited). Then the Leighton Library will be closed for the winter until the start of the new season in spring 2025

If you would like to arrange a tour of the Leighton Library for a group at other times, then get in touch with Visits Co-ordinator Alastair MacDonald by clicking here

The Leighton Library, the oldest purpose-built independent library in Scotland founded on the collection of Robert Leighton, Bishop of Dunblane, 1661-1670, later Archbishop of Glasgow, 1670-1674. In his will, Leighton left a sum of money for the building of the library for use by the clergy of Dunblane diocese.

Where is the Leighton Library?

The library is just a few steps from Dunblane Cathedral, Dunblane Museum and Sir Andy Murray's Golden Postbox. Click here for information about how to find us.

The library was built in part from fallen stone from the nearby ruined Bishop's Palace. The total cost of the library was £162 2/6d.

Leighton had retired to Sussex, where he died, and his books were transported by horse and cart and by sea before being installed in the completed library.

The building is a two storey construction with the books situated in a single room on the first floor accessed by the original external staircase. The lower floor, or undercroft, originally functioned as the living quarters for the first librarian.

What's in the Leighton Library?

The library originally housed the books bequeathed to it by Robert Leighton, numbering around 1400. The first floor consists of a single room lined with presses. The original presses, on the left as you enter, hold Leighton’s books. These have been added to over the years so that the library now houses around 4,500 volumes with 89 languages represented within the books, including Greek, Persian, Syrian and Gaelic. Still to be seen in the library are "Twelve chairs of turkie red lether", part of the original bequest. Under the guidance of volunteer custodians, visitors are allowed carefully to handle and inspect volumes from this collection. We hope that you will enjoy your visit both to this website and to the fascinating collection and building of the Leighton Library. Click here to find out more about the books within the Leighton Library.

Opening times

During the winter months, from Saturday 26 October 2024 until Saturday 21 December, the Leighton Library is open only on Saturdays 11am-4pm. Free admission (donations invited). Then the Leighton Library will be closed for the winter until the start of the new season in spring 2025

If you would like to arrange a tour of the Leighton Library for a group at other times, then get in touch with Visits Co-ordinator Alastair MacDonald by clicking on this link. In addition the library is regularly included in Stirling Council Doors Open Weekends in September each year.

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