The Library of Innerpeffray
Every visitor who comes to Innerpeffray encounters a place where books and the knowledge they contain are valued above all. This is the oldest free public lending library in Scotland, representing the very origins of the Scottish Enlightenment. Founded along with the Schoolhouse in 1680 by David Drummond, 3rd Lord Madertie and brother-in-law of the great Marquis of Montrose.
One of the Library’s greatest treasures are some of the most precious documents in European social and intellectual history: the borrowers’ ledger recording every loan made from 1747 until lending ceased in 1968.
“It is in effect the Magna Carter of the Scottish mind”
Arthur Herman(author of How the Scots invented the modern world)
Innerpeffray is a place of great charm and tranquillity on the site of a Roman road by the River Earn. It commands fine views towards Drummond Castle,Crieff,Geln Turrett and Ben Chonzie.
Symbol of the Enlightenment. By 1750 almost every Scottish town of any size had a lending Library.
They served a society in which 75% of adults could read and write-compared to only 53% in England.
This remarkable awakening of Scottish genius was known as the Enlightenment, a culture of reading and learning unique in Europe. At its dawn was the very first free lending library of all: The Library of Innerpeffray.
The Library has about 5,000 books: many rare and remarkable, beautifully bound in leather and vellum.
Most were published before 1800.
The borrowers’ details provide an extraordinary insight into the reading habits and interests of Innerpeffray’s users, from stonemasons to students of philosophy, over two centuries. One example: In September 1791,David Peatt McDermid signed the borrowers’ ledger for Drummond’s History and Boece’s History of Scotland.
You will find in the borrowers ledger that maids borrowed works of theology: stonemasons who wanted to learn about natural history and literature: readers who walked many miles to check a copy of John Locke’s Essay Concerning Human Understanding or Buffon’s Histoire Naturelle.
In the nearby village of Cleish, in Kinross-shire, in 1790 every eight year old in that village could read, and write well.
In more ways that one, this amazing story of the Enlightenment begins at Innerpeffray.
The Library recently commissioned a professional historian and author to write the story of the Library and its books.
Called The First Light it will be on sale from April 2009. Only 500 copies, hand set type on parchment paper and leather bound. The cost will be £150 (£135 for Libraries, Schools and Friends of the Library).
We are registered with The American Fund for Charities to help American subscribers or donors.
Contact
The Library of Innerpeffray
Innerpeffray Lodge
Crieff
Perthshire
PH7 3QW
Great Britain
Tel: +44 (1764) 652819
Fax: +44 (1764) 654132
E-Mail: info@innerpeffraylibrary.co.uk
