Hereford Library

In the 19th century not everyone could read (it was not until the Education Act of 1870 that schools were set up) and weekly papers were read out loud in public houses in Hereford, such as The Grapes in Castle Street.

In 1815 Benjamin Fallowes set up the Hereford Permanent Library in St. John Street. This library was open to those members of the public who could afford the annual subscription of £1 10s, which was not many of the population of the city.

In 1836 a library was opened for the working classes that was attached to St. Peter's Literary Institution in Commercial Street. There the ordinary man could read the London and provincial papers, as well as other periodicals. However, at this time Hereford was still without a public library that could be used by all without charge.

The Public Libraries Act of 1850 authorised towns such as Hereford to use the revenue from a half-penny rate to provide public libraries. In 1855 this was increased to one penny, however the city fathers of Hereford did not rush to provide library facilities as they had more pressing problems - such as sanitation and living standards - to deal with, which were taking up all the public time and money.

The public interest in literature continued to grow steadily and hundreds of people would turn out at "Penny Readings" held in Hereford to hear humorous and serious lectures given by the intellectuals of the county.

In 1869 James Rankin, who was President of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club (a local history and natural history society), offered to help with the foundation of a public library. He was willing to provide the capital needed to purchase a site and erect the building that would house a combined library and museum, provided that the Woolhope Club would have a private reading room within the building.

By 1871 the idea of a free library with attached museum was officially agreed between the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club and Hereford City Council, and land in Broad Street was bought by James Rankin for £1,750 from Mr William Beavan.

The library was designed by Mr. F. R. Kempson, a local architect and a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. It was to be a distinctive and ornate building featuring intricate carvings of animals, plants and signs of the zodiac.

Whilst the new library was being built, temporary rooms were opened in King Street for reading purposes. These were well attended and often averaged over 100 visitors a day. The new building eventually cost £7,600, of which James Rankin gave £6,115 and the City Council raised the rest.

The foundation stone of the new library and museum was laid in 1873 and the library first opened for business in October 1874. Initially the front half of the ground floor was reserved for shops and a committee room but these were soon converted into library use. The museum was on the second floor with the third floor kept for librarian's accommodation, which included a kitchen, scullery, sitting rooms and bedrooms.

The opening ceremony

The opening ceremony of the Hereford Free Library and Museum was held on Thursday 8th October 1874, and all the shops and businesses in Hereford closed for the day to join in the celebrations.

Hundreds of spectators turned out to watch the opening ceremony, and there was a procession of all the school children in the county. A commemorative service was held in the Cathedral, performed by the Bishop, who also led the opening ceremony as he was Chairman of the Free Library Committee. James Rankin was handed the key to the building by Mr Kempson, the architect. After unlocking the building to cheers and applause the Town Clerk read an address followed by speeches. Then 160 invited guests went into the building for a feast provided by the Mayor.

The school children in Hereford celebrated with tea which required 3,600lbs of cake, 4 cwt of sugar and 56lbs of tea. The children were also given a special commemorative medal by the Mayor to wear at the ceremony. On one side of the medal was a depiction of the Hereford Library with the date of its opening and the name of Mr Rankin and on the other side was the City Arms with the name of the Mayor.

At 7pm there was a fireworks display on the Castle Green, at the end of which the National Anthem was sung before the spectators marched back to High Town.

By the end of the century over 60,000 books were being borrowed each year from Hereford Free Library. Between April 2002 and March 2003 Hereford Library issued 359,345 items to the public, showing just what a valuable public resource the library remains.

In 1912 a bequest from Sir Joseph Pulley and a gift from his nephew Charles meant that the library could be extended further back onto Aubrey Street to create a new lending library, reference library and art gallery. Visitors now had open access to the books and the number of acquisitions was rising.

By the 1950s a mezzanine floor had been added over the old lending library. In 1974 a further mezzanine floor was created over the reference library and a lift was installed.

Today the library is a hive of activity, with a good-sized local reference section, DVDs, CDs and public internet access. As well as the museum on the second floor there is also a gallery and exhibition area which houses a changing display.

(For further information on Hereford Library, see An Ornament of the City, 125 Years of Hereford Free Library and Museum, by I. Churcher, R. Hill and C. Robinson, published by Herefordshire Council in 1999.)

[Original author: Miranda Greene, 2003]