Westerkirk Library - Bentpath, Dumfries and Galloway
N 55° 12.004 W 003° 05.264
30U E 494415 N 6117058
Westerkirk Library is the oldest working library in Scotland. Originally founded in 1793 by mine workers, the library expanded from a bequest by Thomas Telford, who was born locally. Open one night a month for book lending. Grade B listed building.
Waymark Code: WM9XG4
Location: Southern Scotland, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/11/2010
Views: 1
These words sum up the current state of the library.
"The Library was founded in 1793 for and by the workers at an antimony mine in Westerkirk. It moved to the village school when the mine closed in 1799-1800, and expanded rapidly after a bequest from Thomas Telford, civil engineer, born in Westerkirk, on his death in 1834. The Library moved again in 1840 when a new village school was built but ran out of space and a new, separate library building was needed. Designed by architect J. Habershon of London, the building was completed in 1863 at a cost of just over £600 and remains the home of the Library today.
The Library has some 8,000 books, ranging in age from the middle of the 18th century to the present day. Until about 1920 all books were bound in leather before being taken into library stock. A project started in 1992 and completed in 1997 restored the building and book stock." from (
visit link)
The building is Grade B listed. (
visit link)
Visit Scotland has a small paragraph (
visit link)
Streetmap (
visit link)
DG13 0PB
Visit Instructions:As a suggestion for your visit log, please make every effort to supply a brief-to-detailed note about your experience at the Waymark. If possible also include an image that was taken when you visited the Waymark. Images can be of yourself, a personal Waymarking signature item or just one of general interest that would be of value to others. Sharing your experience helps promote Waymarking and provides a dynamic history of your adventures.