Old Library

Summary.  A two-storey building near the north transept, built in the late 15th-century, housed books and cathedral fabric accounts. It was destroyed in the Civil War, 1646, causing loss of records.

In c. 1489, Dean Thomas Heywood gave £40 for the building of a brick building, west of the cathedral north transept door to house a library of books and muniments. The upper storey might have been timber framed. It was adjoined, possibly on the north, by a timber framed house for the chapter clerk. The library was finished around 1493[1] under the supervision of Dean John Yotton.[2] The first librarian was Thomas Milles or Milley.[3] The site of the library was shown on an early plan of the cathedral.[4]

Location of the old library from a drawing by Gale in 1720 and first published by Willis in 1727.

 

West front of the cathedral with part of the library showing to the left on the north side. Possible etching by W. Hollar of unknown date but 17th century, reproduced by Dugdale.

 

            During the reign of Edward VI, 1547-1553, every cathedral was instructed to have in their library the works of the early Church fathers and modern writers such as Erasmus. This was part of the conversion to Protestantism.

The library was destroyed in the Civil War, 1646, and some items stolen. After its restoration, Frances, Duchess of Somerset, bequeathed about a thousand books, chronicles and histories belonging to the Dukes of Somerset.[5] By 1724 the library was described as a ‘mean structure’,[6] and in 1798, the building and an adjoining house belonging to the Chapter Clerk, were demolished.[7] One reason given for the demolition was that it was close to the cathedral and a fire risk. A new library was formed using the treasury room above the Chapter House.[8] There is a long list of antiquarians and clergy who have since bequeathed books, drawings, sermons and articles to the new library and contents are still being catalogued.

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[1] According to H. Wharton, Anglia Sacra (Volume 1 ed.). (London: 1691) it was finished in 1500.

[2] T. Harwood, The history and antiquities of the church and city of Lichfield. (London: 1806), 109, 180.

[3] Ibid, 180.

[4] B. Willis, M. Burghers, J. Harris, T. Bacon and T. Osborne, T. (1742). A survey of the cathedrals of York, Durham, Carlisle, Chester, Man, Litchfield, Hereford, Worcester, Gloucester, Bristol, Lincoln, Ely, Oxford, Peterborough, Canterbury, Rochester, London, Winchester, Chichester, Norwich, Salisbury, Wells, Exeter, St. Davids, Landaff, Bangor, and St. Asaph. (London: 1742), 426.

[5] T. Harwood (1806), 69.

[6] B.M. Add. MS. 5829, f. 2v. quoted in VCH, House of secular canons - Lichfield cathedral: From the Reformation to the 20th century. A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 3.

[7] T. Harwood (1806), 109. J. Britton, The history and antiquities of the See and cathedral church of Lichfield. (London: 1820), 31, cited the date of demolition of around 1760. A B. Clifton, The Cathedral church of Lichfield. (London: 1900), George Bell and Sons, thought it was demolished in 1750.

[8] It is likely this room was originally more than a treasury and contained the most valuable books and records.