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 |
PART II. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
FOUNDATION AND HISTORY.
Warrington and Salford claim to have established the earliest examples of municipally-controlled and rate-supported free popular libraries in the United Kingdom, they having added books to the attractions of their museums which were established in 1848 and 1849 respectively under the Act of 1845 “for encouraging the establishment of museums in large towns.” Norwich, however, has the distinction of being the first municipality to adopt the first public library act, which was due to the labours of Mr. William Ewart. Ewart’s act received the royal assent on the 14th August, 1850, and within seven weeks Norwich had decided to adopt it!
The initiator of the library movement in Norwich apparently was Mr. Thomas Brightwell, a man of scientific tastes, who was Mayor of the City in 1837. At the Council meeting held on September 13th, 1850, he drew attention to the new act, and, according to the first annual report of the Library, he “presented a strongly worded memorial signed by 600 persons.” He succeeded in carrying his motion that the Mayor be directed to ascertain the feeling of the citizens as to whether the provisions of the new act should be adopted, and a poll of the burgesses was taken on September 27th, when 150 voted in favour of the adoption of the act while only 7 voted against it. The act provided that a rate of one halfpenny in the pound might be levied for library purposes, but no provision was made for buying books. In 1855 this act was repealed by another, which remained the principal library act for England and Wales until 1892; it allowed one penny in the pound to be levied, and provided for the purchase of books.
After the adoption of the act the Council appointed committees for making all the necessary arrangements for the
establishment of a Library, and it received reports from them in 1851, 1852, and 1853. By September 1854 two levies of the halfpenny rate had been made amounting to £500, and with that sum in hand the Corporation ventured to purchase the library site, and to approve the architectural plans, prepared by the City Surveyor, Mr. Edward Everett Benest.