📚 Dunblane's historic Leighton Library
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📚 Dunblane's historic Leighton Library
@leightonlibrary.bsky.social
Scotland's oldest purpose-built independent library, built 1687 from bequest of 17th century Robert Leighton, Principal of University of Edinburgh, Chancellor of University of Glasgow, Bishop of Dunblane Cathedral

https://www.leightonlibrary.org.uk
#Museum30 theme 23 is #animal. Dunblane's historic Leighton Library has 1663 first edition of "Hierozoicon sive bipertitum opus De animalibus sacrae scripturae" (2-volume encyclopedic zoological treatise on animals of bible, by French biblical scholar Samuel Bochart.
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November 23, 2025 at 8:16 AM
#Museum30 theme 22 is #walk. Robert Leighton, whose gift in his will led to creation of Dunblane's historic Leighton Library, was on a walk in Dunblane one day, when he was approached by a lady. She said to him that she’d had a dream that one day she would marry him. Robert Leighton replied that…/👇
November 22, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Hear Max & Murray share about biscuits newly available to buy in Leighton Library. These biscuits are shaped & decorated to look like Leighton Library

🚶Visit Dunblane's historic Leighton Library
📅 Open only on Saturdays in November
🕚 11am-4pm
🆓 Free admission
November 21, 2025 at 5:21 PM
#Museum30 theme 21 is #careers. Career of Robert Leighton, whose gift in his will led to creation of Dunblane's historic Leighton Library, included being Minister of Newbattle Church, Principal of University of Edinburgh, Bishop of Dunblane, & Archbishop of Glasgow…/👇
November 21, 2025 at 8:29 AM
#Museum30 theme 20 is #diary. Dunblane's historic Leighton Library has 1773 edition of book which made diaries of Captain Cook famous, “An account of the voyages undertaken for making discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere, & successfully performed by Commodore Byron…/👇
November 20, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Newly available, here’s recording on Leighton Library YouTube channel of Leighton Library 2025 Geraldine Goddard Memorial Lecture, “Enlightenment & Conspiracy at the Leighton Library, 1780-1832’ presented by Dr Josh Smith on Sat 15 Nov

▶️ youtu.be/rFYkUOsluyw
Leighton Library 2025 Geraldine Goddard Memorial Lecture by Dr Josh Smith
YouTube video by Leighton Library Dunblane
youtu.be
November 20, 2025 at 12:08 AM
#Museum30 theme 19 is #magic. Dunblane's historic Leighton Library has 1533 first edition of book banned for its embrace of magic (which heightened its mystique & desirability!), "De occulta philosophia" by German polymath, physician, legal scholar, soldier & theologian…/👇
November 19, 2025 at 8:26 AM
#Museum30 theme 18 is #photograph. The 2026 calendar for Dunblane's historic Leighton Library has beautiful photograph for each month featuring a book from library’s historic collection, appropriate to each month. Now available at just £10. Get one for yourself, & they will make great gifts for…/👇
November 18, 2025 at 8:09 AM
#Museum30 theme 17 is #making. After Dunblane's historic Leighton Library opened, rules were made - including librarian to keep library tidy, & clean books & shelves 4 times a year, & permitting “no persones to haunt the Library but such as come with a purpose to read, &c”
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November 17, 2025 at 7:45 AM
#Museum30 theme 16 is #last12months. Highlights in year include Royal visit to Dunblane's historic Leighton Library by His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, new education resources for schools & young visitors, special tours for Blue Badge Tour Guides, university groups, &…/👇
November 16, 2025 at 7:09 AM
November #Museum30 theme 15 is #kindness. Dunblane's historic Leighton Library relies entirely on all those who kindly give of their time, energy, enthusiasm, experience & expertise to be Volunteer Guides, Trustees or Members of Executive Group, or Undercroft, Education…/👇
November 15, 2025 at 7:35 AM
IT’S TODAY - come on down, Sat 15 Nov Dunblane Cathedral Hall, 10.30am to free 2025 Geraldine Goddard Memorial Lecture, “Enlightenment and Conspiracy at the Leighton Library, 1780-1832’ presented by Dr Josh Smith www.leightonlibrary.org.uk/calendar/202...
November 15, 2025 at 7:29 AM
#Museum30 theme 14 is #heavy. Heaviest book in Dunblane's historic Leighton Library is 1776 First Edition of “The American Atlas” which weighs 4440g. It is also tallest & widest book (without even counting many pages which fold out, to then double width of book)
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November 14, 2025 at 7:39 AM
November #Museum30 theme 13 is #background. Dunblane's historic Leighton Library has beautifully illustrated 2026 calendar now available for sale at £10. Cover photograph shows Leighton Library with Dunblane Cathedral in background. Each month features book from library’s…/👇
November 13, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Jacobite Battle of Sheriffmuir took place on outskirts of Dunblane #OnThisDay 13 Nov 1715. Dunblane’s historic Leighton Library has a free learning resource available from website which provides learning activities to explore lead up to battle, battle itself, & aftermath…/👇
November 13, 2025 at 7:37 AM
#Museum30 theme 12 is #digital. Dunblane's historic Leighton Library this autumn launched free digital guide. One of audio tours is entitled “From the tiniest text to the tallest tome” - listen as Volunteer Guide tells you about library in superlatives! www.leightonlibrary.org.uk/digital-guide
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November 12, 2025 at 8:29 AM
#Museum30 theme 11 is #reflection. Is Dunblane's historic Leighton Library a reflection on shiny Gold Postbox marking 2012 Olympic win of Sir Andy Murray?

🚶Visit Dunblane's historic Leighton Library
📅 Open only on Saturdays in November
🕚 11am-4pm
🆓 Free admission (donations invited)
November 11, 2025 at 8:14 AM
All welcome on Sat 15 Nov at 10.30am in Dunblane Cathedral Hall, to free 2025 Geraldine Goddard Memorial Lecture, “Enlightenment & Conspiracy at the Leighton Library, 1780-1832’ presented by Dr Josh Smith

www.leightonlibrary.org.uk/calendar/202...
November 10, 2025 at 9:07 PM
#Museum30 theme 10 is #rainbow. Dunblane's historic Leighton Library is a Rainbow of Reading, with diversity of genres, languages, & subjects - from theology to travelogues, poetry to politics.
Using the rainbow as metaphor for post-Reformation intellectual flourishing…/👇
November 10, 2025 at 8:54 AM
#Museum30 theme 9 is #map. Dunblane's historic Leighton Library has 1630 edition of "Atlas minor, ou Briefve description de tout le monde" by Flemish cartographer, philosopher & mathematician Gerardus Mercator. He gave his name to Mercator Projection. He is best known for…/👇
November 9, 2025 at 8:45 AM
#Museum30 theme 8 is #stitch. Some books in historic collection of Dunblane’s Leighton Library, due to wear & tear, have binding which has come loose, revealing stitching of pages. Help by adopting a book, & have your name associated with book www.leightonlibrary.org.uk/adopt-a-book...
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November 8, 2025 at 8:04 AM
#Museum30 theme 7 is #box. There is free downloadable board game bringing to life how, in 17th century, books of Robert Leighton were boxed up & brought in chests from Horsted Keynes to Dunblane to be housed in library built to hold them in Dunblane www.leightonlibrary.org.uk/journey-of-b...
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November 7, 2025 at 7:17 AM
November #Museum30 theme 6 is #clay. Dunblane’s historic Leighton Library has ceramic mugs available for sale featuring images of the Leighton Library as well as images from historic books in its collection leighton-library-shop.co.uk/collections/...
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November 6, 2025 at 7:20 AM
November #Museum30 theme 5 is #sharing. Volunteer Guides from Dunblane’s historic Leighton Library share on its YouTube channel about historic books in library youtube.com/playlist?lis...

🚶Visit Dunblane's historic Leighton Library
📅 Open only on Saturdays in November
🕚 11am-4pm
🆓 Free admission
November 5, 2025 at 7:17 AM
November #Museum30 theme 4 is #sketchbook. Dunblane’s historic Leighton Library has 1898 book “The Battle of Sheriffmuir,” by John E Shearer, containing sketches, about the 1715 Jacobite battle fought at Dunblane
www.leightonlibrary.org.uk/1715-jacobit...
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November 4, 2025 at 8:34 AM