World Book Day at the Guildhall Library
Readers will know that I’m quite the fan of the Guildhall. This position was strongly reinforced yesterday when I had the massive privilege of a tour of the Library with its Principal Librarian, Peter Ross.
The Guildhall Library was founded in the 1420s thanks to an endowment by that man, Richard Whittington, the wealthy Lord Mayor of London. It was, of course, a manuscript library to begin with, until print technology entered the picture at the turn of the 16C.
Then disaster struck in the late 1540s when scalliwag of history the Duke of Somerset, Lord Protector, decided to help himself to all of the collection, transporting it to his palace in three large carts, as recorded by John Stow. There is no record of what became of the collection thereafter. One would like to think that his demise at the executioner’s block was some pay-back for overdue books.
And that was the end of that until a library at the Guildhall was revived in 1820s. A little later a purpose-build home was constructed in 1870 to the East of Guildhall, designed by Horace Jones, the Tower Bridge man. Luckily it took just the one hit during the Blitz, although the books had been removed to safety.
In the 1960s the current library was built as an extension to the West of the Guildhall. Among much else, it houses the records of about 80 of the City’s 108 Livery Companies; records of Lloyds of London; records public companies within the Square Mile; admin records from the Stock Exchange. Plus, of course, many thousands of books and manuscripts, posters, broadsides and miscellaneous ephemera going back centuries. Other functions of the Library are materials conservation and protection, and it has a budget to acquire any historical printed matter relating to the City which comes onto the market.
It is the largest library in the world devoted to a single city.
The Guildhall Library is open to all and welcomes the opportunity to help members of the public with their research. It also hosts small exhibitions and displays (currently there is one featuring objects from the Worshipful Company of Bowyers (ie bow-makers)). There is a programme of talks by academic historians and authors.
My sincere thanks to Peter Ross and Anne-Marie Nankivell for their hospitality. I’ll explore the possibility of arranging a similar thing for a group of LH Members. Keep an eye on the web-site!
Except where stated, all pictures by Anne-Marie Nankivell.Â
They have a great new mini bookshop too – with City of London books, old maps and postcards – well worth supporting
What’s the story on the book with the ball and chain?
That’s a 16C pre-Authorised Version, bible. In English though, but not sure which version (there were loads, were there not?). This is from the time of the first Guildhall library which was what was known as a “chained library”. Every single volume was chained to the shelf. Simple reason is that books were very high-value items. Peter also explained that medieval libraries tended to be on the first floor rather than the ground floor, I guess for security, but also a hedge against flood damage.
The library is a shadow of the great institution it once was. The print room has been completely swept away as has the manuscript room. Most of the manuscript collection has gone to LMA, where they struggle with the old Guildhall finding aids. The Guildhall seems to have lost all its specialist staff. It has certainly lost the wonderful bookshop that was a treasure house of books and prints about London.
So I’m glad you are a fan of the library. I’m glad you enjoyed your visit. But it would have been good to reflect some of the recent disasters the library has suffered, and not just ones from many years ago.
Best wishes, love your tweets,
Richard