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Hereford Free Library and Museum.

In the nineteenth century not everyone could read (it wasn't until the Education Act of 1870 that schools were set up) and weekly papers were read out loud in public houses in Hereford such as at The Grapes in Castle Street.

In 1815 Benjamin Fallowes set up the Hereford Permanent Library in St. John Street. This library was open to those members of the public who could afford the annual subscription of £1 10s, which wasn't the majority of the population of Hereford.

In 1836 a library was opened for the working classes that was attached to St. Peter's Literary Institution in Commercial Street. There the ordinary man could read the London and provincial papers and other periodicals.

However, Hereford was still without a public library that could be used by all without charge.

The Public Libraries Act of 1850 authorised towns such as Hereford to use the revenue from a half-penny rate to provide public libraries.

In 1855 this was increased to one penny, however the city fathers of Hereford did not rush to provide library facilities as they had more pressing problems such as sanitation and living standards to deal with, which at this time were taking up all the public time and money.

The public interest in literature continued to grow steadily and hundreds of people would turn out at Penny Readings held in the City to hear humorous and serious lectures given by the intellectuals of the county.

In 1869 James Rankin, who was President of the Woolhope Naturalists Field Club (A local historical society) offered to help with the foundation of a public library. He was willing to provide the capital needed to purchase a site and erect the building that would house a combined library and museum, provided that the Woolhope Club would have a private reading room within the building.

By 1871 the idea of a free library with attached museum was officially agreed between the Woolhope Naturalists Field Club and Herefordshire Council, and land in Broad Street for the site was bought for £1,750 from Mr William Beavan by James Rankin.

The library was designed by F.R. Kempson, a local architect, and a member of RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects). It was to be a distinctive and ornate buildings and feature intricate carvings of animals, plants and signs of the zodiac.

Whilst the new library was being built, temporary rooms were opened in King Street for reading purposes. These were well attended and often averaged over 100 visitors a day.

The building eventually cost £7,600 of which James Rankin gave £6,115 and the City Council raised the rest.

The foundation stone of the new library and museum was laid in 1873 and the library first opened for business on October 8th 1874. (3,600 lbs of cake was provided for all the school children in Hereford for the opening and a fireworks display on Castle Green was organised.)

Initially the front half of the ground floor was reserved for shops and a committee room but these were soon converted into library use. The museum was on the second floor with the third floor kept for librarian’s accommodation, which included a kitchen, scullery, sitting rooms and bedrooms.