Did you know that Leeds is home to the oldest subscription library in the UK? We took a trip and here’s why you should too.
It all dates back to 1768, when The Leeds Library opened above Joseph Ogle’s bookshop on Kirkgate. Fast forward to 1808, when it moved to its Commercial Street dwelling, extending into the neighbouring building later on that century. And now we find ourselves in 2024, where the library is still going strong as the oldest of its kind in the country.
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“We have the main room, which opened in 1808 and houses most of our fiction collection” Nina Corey, The Leeds Library CEO, told us. “In the 1860s, we extended into our new room – which isn’t very new anymore – and that’s where we host our weddings and where a lot of our non fiction is housed. We even have a little private reading room which used to be a ladies reading room”.
There’s no doubt about it – the library is breathtaking. The walls are made of rich oak bookcases that house every type of novel under the sun (there’s even a ladder so you can reach the top shelf). Take the stairs to the top level and you’ll find – yep, you guessed it – even more books on a beautiful iron-wrought balcony decorated with fairy lights and sprigs of ivy.
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The library still even has 1850s sunlighters in the main room, which were one of the first kind in Leeds. 18 naked flames were burned from each one to provide light, enabling the library to open into the evenings, and the sunlight burn is still there to this day. They’re the oldest to be found in situ and just another reason why The Leeds Library is one-of-a-kind.
Our favourite part? It has to be the staircases. Trust us, they look like they’re straight out of Hogwarts. While one is a replica from the 1990s, the other is an original Georgian piece that spirals up towards the upper tier. Other unusual features include a secret window opposite the gentlemen’s toilets that lets you peek inside the original building.
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But, as stunning as it is, we really came for the books – luckily there’s 150,000 of them. “We’ve got the first edition of Origin of the Species by Charles Darwin” said Nina – keep an eye out for the typo on the first page. “We even have an original version of Moby Dick, which was in three volumes called The Whale, so we have some real treasures here”.
Around 50,000 of the books are actually off-site as the library currently doesn’t have the room, but that’s all set to change next year as they look to expand into the neighbouring building. Phase one has already been completed, and the library’s been made accessible for the first time ever with a proper lift, as well as the addition of a bespoke meeting space.
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Oh, we almost forgot to mention – there’s even been a ghostly sighting or two over the years. One night in 1884, librarian John MacAlister was sat alone at his desk when he spotted a man’s illuminated face staring at him from a solid bookcase. Legend has it, it was actually MacAlister’s predecessor Vincent Sternberg, although he was never seen again…
So, there you have it. Although there were only 105 members originally, the library now finds itself at 1,110, and you might just be the next. It’s hidden away on Commercial Street, so we wouldn’t blame you if you’ve never been, but next time you find yourself on that side of town, why not give it a visit? You never know what you may discover.
The Leeds Library, 18 Commercial Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6AL. Open from 10am to 6pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am to 7pm on Thursdays, 10am to 5pm on Fridays and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays. Closed on Sundays. Memberships costs £156 per person, per year.
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