THE QUARTERS OF THE LIBRARY.
The first home of the Library, as stated on page 4, was parcel of the dwelling house of Jerrom Goodwyne, the sword-bearer of the City. This house was built over the south porch of the Church of the Black Friars, now known as St. Andrew’s Hall, which had been acquired by the City at the Dissolution. It is clearly shewn in the frontispiece, which is a reproduction of Daniel King’s engraving of Black Friars’ Hall, probably executed about 1650. The Local Collection contains two copies of the engraving which have different plate numbers: one, numbered 78, is from the edition of Dugdale’s “Monasticon” published in 1718, but the book from which the other one, numbered 50, was taken, has not been traced.
Writing in 1857 Henry Harrod remarked that “If the view engraved by King correctly represents this house, it was by no means an ornamental feature; still it was as good as the far more pretentious structure which has replaced it.” [50b]
In regard to the building of this house Kirkpatrick gives an extract from a record of 34th Henry VIII, showing that the city granted to John Kempe, the chaplain, “in consideration that he, of his benevolence hath bestowed about the buylding of a lodgyng with three chambers, over the porch of the house, late the black friars, now the common hall of the city, and on either side of the same porch, above sixty pounds;—that, therefore, the said J. Kempe shall have the same lodgyng, with the office called the
Chapleyn of the Chappell, belonging to the said hall called, St. John’s Chapel, with all the oblacions; also, liberty of the garden and yard called the prechyng-yard.” [51]
The first of the few entries in the Minute Book regarding the library rooms shows that the books were not too well protected from the elements, for on 10th August, 1657, “Mr. Collinges gaue an acct of 1s. laid out for coale and wood for the drying of ye bookes harmed by ye raine.”
From the instructions, in Latin, to the Librarian which are set out in the classified and alphabetical catalogue of 1658 we learn that the library was arranged in two parts, East and West, and that the books were classified. “On the East part the treasury of the books is double, major and minor. The larger part is divided into ten classes folio. The smaller has only four classes of books in 4to and 8vo. The numbering of all classes must always be begun from the bottom. On the West part the treasury of books is single, arranged in five larger classes. Here the number must always be reckoned from the top.”
In 1664 the development of the Library necessitated the enlargement of the accommodation, and on 11th July “All the minrs. present agreed in a petition to ye Mayr Sherriffs Aldn. &c in Court of Comon Councell for ye addition of a roome to ye library, and ye better shelving of it. They further desired Mr. George Cock and Mr. Beresford to present ye petition to ye Comon Councell at their next assembly. Mr. Chamberlain hauing first viewed ye roome & computed ye charge.” On the 12th January 1673 the members decided to petition the Court for removing some wainscot doors, and on March 9th it was recorded that by order of the Court of Assembly “we haue also leaue to take downe ye waynscott Doores wch now conceale the Bookes.”
The Library was removed about 1801, when it was lent to the “Public Library” (see p. 13), to a building formerly a Roman Catholic Chapel, in what is now St. Andrew’s Street, which afterwards became a portion of the old Museum Building, now the offices of the Norwich Guardians. In 1835 the City Library, still on loan to the “Public Library,” went with it to its new
building in the Market Place opposite the north door of the Guildhall, on the site of its successor, the present Norfolk and Norwich Subscription Library. The City Library returned to the direct control of the Corporation in 1862, and was housed in the present Public Library building then recently erected.
DONATIONS TO THE CITY LIBRARY, 1608-1737.
(Extracted from the Vellum Book.)
| DATE. | DONOR. | VOLS. |
| 1608 | Pettus, Sir John, Knt., Alderman of Norwich | 15 |
| 1608 | Downing, Mrs. Susannah, wife of Alderman George Downing | 3 |
| 1609 | Corye, Mr. Thomas, Merchant | 10 |
| 1609 | Hirne, Sir Thomas, Knt. | 12 |
| 1609/10 | Corbett, Thomas, Esq. | 6 |
| 1609/10 | Doyly, Henry, Esq. | 2 |
| 1610 | Doyly, Charles, Gent. | 11 |
| 1610 | Sedgwick, Robert, Merchant | 12 |
| 1610 | Peade, Michael, Notary Public and Registrar to the Archdeacon of Norwich | 2 |
| 1610 | Mingay, John, Gent. | 2 |
| 1610 | Pettus, Augustine, Son and heir of the said [Sir] John [Pettus] | 4 |
| Howlett, Laurence, S.T.B., Minister of St. Andrew’s | 1 | |
| 1611 | Newhowse, Thomas, A.M., & Minister of God’s Word | 4 |
| 1611 | Hannam, William, Gent., A.M. | 3 |
| 1612/3 | Garsett, Robert, Esq. | 7 |
| 1613 | Blowe, Joanna, widow | 4 |
| 1613 | Thurston, Hamond, Merchant | 3 |
| 1613 | Peckover, Mathew, late Sheriff of Norwich | 3 |
| 1614 | Launey, Peter, Minister of the Walloon Church [in Norwich] | 2 |
| Wells, William, Theologiæ Baccalaureus | 5 | |
| Throkmorton, Bassingbourne | 2 | |
| 1614 | Cropp, John, Physician and Surgeon | 4 |
| Bird, Henry | 1 | |
| 1615 | Ross, Richard, Gent., late Sheriff of Norwich | 1 |
| 1614 | Barbar, Gabriel, Gent., in the name of the Society of Virginia | 11 |
| 1616/7 | Nutting, Edward, late Sheriff of Norwich | 5 |
| 1616/7 | Batho, William, B.T. | 1 |
| 1617 | Anguish, John, Gent., and Citizen | 7 |
| 1617 | Anguish, Edmund, Gent. | 9 |
| 1617 | Catelyn, Thomas, Esq. | 7 |
| Corbett, Anne, widow of Thomas Corbett, Esq. | 1 | |
| 1618 | Atkins, Thomas, Merchant, Norwich | £5 and 7 |
| 1621 | Scottowe, Augustine | 17 |
| Gallard, Robert, formerly minister of St. Andrew’s | 1 | |
| 1625/6 | Page, Francis | 1 |
| 1628 | City of Norwich | 1 |
| Remington, Nathaniel, Alderman [of Norwich] | 4 | |
| 1631 | Borage, John | 7 |
| 1633 | Chapman, Samuel, Merchant | 2 |
| 1633 | Barret, Thomas, Merchant | 2 |
| 1634 | Mingay, Antony, Gent. | 11 |
| Mingay, Mrs., Widow | 7 | |
| 1634 | Freeman, John | Map of Canaan |
| 1634 | Blosse, Prudence, Widow, Relict of Alderman T. Blosse | 8 |
| Chappell, John, S.T.B., Minister of St. Andrew’s | 4 | |
| 1658 | Payne, Joseph, Alderman [afterwards Sir] | £20 and 1 |
| Thornback, John, Minister of St. Andrew’s | 1 | |
| Stinett, William, S.T.B., Rector of St. John Maddermarket | 7 | |
| 1658/9 | Collinges, John, S.T.: Dr. | £1 and 6 |
| [1657] | Whitefoote, John, Rector of Heigham, next Norwich | 4 |
| 1659 | Brooke, Thomasine, Widow & Relict of Wm. Brooke, Gent. | 29 [53a] |
| [1659] | Allen, Thomas | 1 |
| [1659/60] | City of Norwich | 6 |
| 1661 | Payne, Sir Joseph, Knt., late Mayor of this City | 16 |
| Scottowe, Augustine, Merchant. | 7 [53b] | |
| [1661] | Smyth, John, Rector of St. Michael Coslany | 1 |
| [1661] | Barret, Thomas | 5 [53c] |
| 1662 | Norris, Francis, Citizen and Alderman [of Norwich] | 14 |
| [1664] | Morley, Thomas, Curate of St. Peter Hungate | 2 |
| 1664 | Mann, John, Citizen and Alderman [of Norwich] | 38 |
| 1665 | Fromentell, Samuel, Citizen | 1 |
| 1666 | Meene, Joshua, formerly Curate of St. Peter Per Moutergate | 3 |
| 1666 | Browne, [Sir] Thomas, Professor of Medicine | 9 |
| 1668 and 1673 | Oliver, William, Bookseller | 2 |
| 1673 | Cock, George, Curate of St. Peter of Mancroft | 18 |
| 1671-1676 | Barnham, John, Citizen | 5 |
| 1673 | Norris, Anthony, Merchant of Norwich | 3 |
| [1674] | Ellsworth, John, Physician | 2 |
| [1674/5] | Tenison, Thomas, S.S.T.B. [afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury] | 5 |
| 1674 | Cock, Nathaniel, Merchant of London | 33 [53d] |
| 1676 | [Reynolds,] Edward, [D.D.] Bishop of Norwich | 24 |
| 1678 | Watson, John, Vicar of Wroxham | 2 |
| 1678 | Clarke, Samuel, Rector of Rainham | 1 |
| 1681 | Gardiner, Francis, Citizen and Alderman [of Norwich] | 2 |
| [1681] | Nurce, William, Clerk | 2 |
| [1681/2] | Prideaux, Humphrey, S.T.P., and Prebendary [afterwards Dean of Norwich] | £1 [54a] and 1 |
| 1691 | Adamson, William, Rector of St. John in Maddermarket | 2 |
| 1678 | Brigges, Augustine, Citizen and Alderman [of Norwich] Wisse, Thomas, Citizen and Alderman [of Norwich] Church, Bernard, Citizen and Alderman [of Norwich] | [10] [54b] |
| 1696 | Penning, Benjamin, A.M., and Rector of St. Clement’s, Norwich | 1 |
| 1692 | Ireland, Richard, formerly Rector of Beeston and sometime also of St. Edmond’s, Norwich, where he was born | His Library |
| 1700 | Adamson, William, Rector of St. John’s Maddermarket | 3 shelves of books |
| 1704 | Trimnell, Dr., Archdeacon of Norfolk, and Prebendary of Norwich [afterwards Bishop of Norwich] | 3 |
| 1704 | Gardiner, Stephen, Esq., Recorder of this City | 1 |
| 1706 | Gurdon, Thornaugh, Esq., [Letton] | 2 |
| 1706 | Resbury, Benjamin, Rector of Cranworth cum Letton | 1 |
| 1706 | Adams, Archibald | 1 |
| 1706 | Moore, John, [D.D.], Lord Bishop of Norwich | 3 |
| 1706/7 | Tanner, Thomas, D.D., Chancellor of Norwich [afterwards Bishop of St. Asaph] | 5 |
| 1706/7 | Bacon, Waller, Esq. | 1 |
| 1706/7 | Beverley, Michael, Esq., Citizen and Alderman of Norwich | 8 |
| 1707 | Potts, Algernon, Esq. [of Norwich] | 1 |
| 1707 | Nelson, Thomas, Rector of Morston, in Norfolk | 3 |
| 1707 | Cook, Sir William, Bart. | 9 |
| 1707 | Eden, Henry, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge | 4 |
| 1707 | Laughton, John, Trinity College, Cambridge, and Library Keeper to the University | 4 |
| 1707 | Rudd, Edward, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge | 3 |
| Bradshaw, Samuel, A.B., Trinity College, Cambridge | 1 | |
| Granger, Gilbert, A.B., Trinity College, Cambridge | 1 | |
| Snow, Matthew, Trinity College, Cambridge | 1 | |
| Chamberlain, William, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge | 1 | |
| Bourchier, Ralph, Trinity College, Cambridge | 1 | |
| Cotes, Roger, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge | 3 | |
| Eusden, Lawrence, of Trinity College, Cambridge | 5 | |
| Smith, Edward, of Trinity College, Cambridge | 3 | |
| Fleming, David, A.B., of Trinity College, Cambridge | 1 | |
| [1707/8] | Ganning, Nathaniel, Rector of Reyme[r]ston, in Norf. | 1 |
| 1708 | Doyly, Samuel, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge | 1 |
| Farewell, Mr. [of Trinity College, Cambridge] | 1 | |
| Andrews, Mr., [of Trinity College, Cambridge] | 1 | |
| Foulis, [J.] Mr. [of Trinity College, Cambridge] | 1 | |
| Hill, Mr., Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge | 1 | |
| [1708] | Lightwin, John, President of Caius College, Cambridge | 2 |
| 1708 | Gurdon, Brampton, Fellow of Caius College, Cambridge | 2 |
| Hawys, Roger, Fellow of Caius College, Cambridge | 1 | |
| Crask, Dr., of Cambridge | 1 | |
| Dodd, Mr., Fellow of Clare Hall | 1 | |
| Worts, William, A.M., of Cambridge | 1 | |
| 1709/10 | Bedingfield, James, als De Grey, Fellow of Gonvil and Caius College, Cambridge | 1 |
| 1709/10 | Prideaux, Humphrey, D.D., and Dean of Norwich | 1 |
| 1712 | [Trimnell], Charles, Lord Bishop of Norwich | 3 |
| 1713/4 | Peck, John, Esq., of Bracondale | 2 |
| 1714 | Nelson, Thomas, Late Rector of Morston, in Norfolk | His Library |
| 1715 | Herne, Clement, Esq., of Heverland | 2 |
| [1715/6] | Seaman, Thomas, Esq., of Heigham | 2 |
| 1716 | Mackerell, Benjamin, of the City of Norwich, Gent. | 2 |
| [1716] | Helwys, Nicholas, Esq., Citizen and Alderman of Norwich | 1 |
| 1717 and 1718 | Prideaux, Humphrey, D.D., and Dean of Norwich | 2 |
| 1718 | Clark, Thomas, Esq. | 3 |
| 1719 | Houghton, William | 1 |
| 1721 | Grayle, John, Rector of Blickling | 9 |
| 1725 | Knyvett, John, of this City, Esq. | 1 |
| 1726 | Tanner, Thomas, S.T.P., and Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich [afterwards Bishop of St. Asaph] | 100 [55a] |
| 1727 | Reveley, Edward | 4 |
| 1728 | Kirkpatrick, John, Merchant and Treasurer to the Great Hospital in this City | His Library |
| 1729 | Jermy, John, Esq. | [?] [a][55b] |
| 1730 | Prideaux, Edmund, Esq. | 60 [a][55c] |
| 1730 | Wingfield, Robert, Writing master | 13 |
| 1731 | Pagan, William | 7 |
| 1731 | Gurdon, Thornaugh, [Letton] | [2?] [a][55d] |
| King, Reuben, Primier [sic] English Schoolmaster in this City | 1 | |
| 1731 | Mackerell, Benjamin, the present Library Keeper | 13 |
| 1733 | Whaley, John | 1 |
| Bennet, Gilbert | 2 | |
| 1733 | Jermy, John | 40 |
| 1732 | Ellis, Ben-Jos[eph], Minister of St. Andrew’s in Norwich | 2 |
| 1737 | Jermy, John, Esq. | 14 |
| 1737 | Nash, Robert, Esq., Chancellor of this Diocese | 4 |