About Leadhills Miners’ Library
Leadhills Heritage Trust was founded at the beginning of the 20th century. Its mission is to preserve, conserve and promote the lead mining, local history and cultural heritage of the Leadhills area through our collections. The principal one is the library of Leadhills Reading Society (now known as Leadhills Miners’ Library) founded in 1741.
It is Britain’s oldest subscription library and the world’s first library for working people.
The Library Building
The library building, erected in 1791 and built by the miners themselves is one of the oldest library buildings in Scotland.
We hold a 46 volume collection of mining journals and bargain books, recording contracts between the mine managers and miners 1737-1854.
It is the largest collection of its kind in Scotland and one of the largest in Britain.
The Collections
As well as our collection of books, the library contains many historical archives and photographs as well as a display of rare minerals connected to the local mining industry.
We also have an important collection of library artefacts including Britain’s oldest library banner, early membership certificates and a unique library pulpit.
Leadhills Miners’ Library Trust
The trustees are a combination of local people and non local experts and are primarily concerned with policy issues and some day to day functions.
They are supported by the library committee which is the lineal descendant of the library committee which ran the library since it began in 1741. There is also a group of mainly local volunteers.
The Trust engages where possible with the local community. It has provided land for the village’s forest school, a learning play area for local children and meetings take place in the library including a programme of winter lectures.
Location
15 Main Street,
Leadhills,
South Lanarkshire
Scotland ML12 6XP
Opening Hours
Saturdays and Sundays
2pm to 5pm.
May to September.
Visits by appointment can be arranged throughout the year.
Leadhills Miners' Library is the World's first library for working people.
Alongside our collection of some 2500 books dating back to the 18th Century, the library contains many historical archives and photographs as well as a display of rare minerals connected to the local mining industry.
We also hold a 46 volume collection of mining journals and bargain books, recording contracts between the mine managers and miners from 1737-1854. It is the largest collection of its kind in Scotland and one of the largest in Britain.
Local Leadhills and Wanlockhead Links
Lead Mining Museum: https://www.leadminingmuseum.co.uk/
Leadhills Railway: https://www.leadhillsrailway.co.uk/
Ski Club: https://skiclub.lowtherhills.com/
Hopetoun Arms Hotel: https://www.hopetounarms.co.uk
