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Latitude: 55.2001 / 55°12'0"N
Longitude: -3.0878 / 3°5'15"W
OS Eastings: 330861
OS Northings: 590074
OS Grid: NY308900
Mapcode National: GBR 68W9.9Q
Mapcode Global: WH6XB.JKVD
Plus Code: 9C7R6W26+2V
Entry Name: Westerkirk Parish Library, Bentpath
Listing Name: Bentpath Village, Westerkirk Library
Listing Date: 12 July 1988
Category: B
Source: Historic Scotland
Source ID: 350768
Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB16940
Building Class: Cultural
ID on this website: 200350768
Location: Westerkirk
County: Dumfries and Galloway
Electoral Ward: Annandale East and Eskdale
Parish: Westerkirk
Traditional County: Dumfriesshire
Tagged with: Library
Built 1860. Rural library with major book collection.
Building has simplified Gothic detailing to openings.
Rectangular-plan; single storey; 3 bays (bipartite windows);
tall 2-light S gable window with cinquefoil; recessed low
reading room to N with gabled porch projecting E from
re-entrant angle (timber shouldered opening and barge-
boards), east-facing tripartite alongside. Squared and
snecked bull-nosed ashlar with contrasting dressings.
Coped end stack; roofs covered with graded slates.
INTERIOR: fitted timber bookshelves line wall (books mostly
uniformly bound and embossed "Telford's legacy") 2
freestanding bookcases; ornate cast-iron stove; exposed
roof timbers, pointed doorways linking rooms flank
fireplace in N reading room.
Set behind low rubble-built and ashlar-coped wall with
spear-head cast-iron railings.
Library was established 1793 (some references give date as
1795); OLD STATISTICAL ACCOUNT (vol XI, p.527) (pub.1794)
records its formation for the benefit of the antimony mine
workers at Jamestown Glendinning by a grant of ?15 for books "some months ago"
from the mining company; at that time the collection
numbered 120 volumes.
Thomas Telford, a native of Westerkirk, bequeathed a
substantial sum to this library.
Groome (circa 1893) gives the collection as 6000 volumes.
External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.
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