The Honresfield Library, also called the Blavatnik Honresfield Library, is a British collection of literary manuscripts and printed books assembled as a private library in the 19th century. In 2021, it was purchased by the Friends of the Nations' Libraries and donated to institutions across the United Kingdom.[1]
Origins
editWilliam Law (1835–1901) was a mill owner and wool manufacturer in Lancashire, England, whose home from 1873 onwards was Honresfeld or Honresfield House near Littleborough. He collected books, manuscripts, and paintings, taking a particular interest in Jane Austen, the Brontës,[2][3] Robert Burns, Lord Byron, and Sir Walter Scott.[4][5][6]
Sale and acquisition
editLaw's descendants offered the collection for auction through Sotheby's in 2021. The Friends of the National Libraries led a fundraising campaign to acquire the collection for the nation. Sir Len Blavatnik's family foundation offered to contribute £7.5 million if matched funding could be found to meet the asking price of £15 million, which was achieved by the end of 2021, including £4 million from the National Heritage Memorial Fund.[7]
A distributed collection
editThe Friends of the National Libraries donated the collection to a range of public and university libraries and museums across the United Kingdom, some with joint ownership. Authors' manuscripts are now in Jane Austen's House, the Brontë Parsonage Museum, the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, and Walter Scott's home Abbotsford.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Friends of the National Libraries Raised $20 Million to Save the Honresfield Library | Fine Books & Collections". www.finebooksmagazine.com.
- ^ "Emily Brontë: Lost handwritten poems expected to fetch around £1m". BBC News. 25 May 2021.
- ^ "Emily Brontë's handwritten poems are highlight of 'lost library' auction". The Guardian. 25 May 2021.
- ^ Friends of the National Libraries, The Blavatnik Honresfield Library: saved for the nation, 2023, pages 18-22.
- ^ Chevalier, Tracy (October 29, 2021). "The Honresfield Library — the £15m fight to save a literary treasure". Financial Times.
- ^ Jackson, Nick (December 21, 2021). "The Rochdale businessman who amassed a £15 MILLION private library". Manchester Evening News.
- ^ * Alison Flood, 'Lost library of literary treasures saved for UK after charity raises £15m', The Guardian, 16 December 2021
- ^ Friends of the Nations' Libraries, 'Donating the collection'
External links
edit- Friends of the Nations' Libraries, 'Honresfield Library SAVED!'
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