Bromley House Library marks 210 years as Nottingham's hidden literary haven

Step through a doorway on Angel Row, climb the stairs and the noise of the city centre seems to fall away. Bromley House Library, founded in 1816 as the Nottingham Subscription Library, is one of the few independent subscription libraries left in the country, and 2026 marks 210 years since it first opened.

The library began life on Carlton Street before buying Bromley House at auction in April 1820 for £2,750 and moving in during 1821. The house itself dates from 1752, when it was built as a town house for George Smith, a grandson of the founder of Smith's Bank. Today it is Grade II* listed.

Inside, the building is full of surprises. The largest reading room has a spiral staircase and gallery, dating from 1857 and built with no central supporting column. In the Standfast Room there is a meridian line, assembled in 1836 and still fully working, once used to set clocks by the moment sunlight crossed it at solar noon. The longcase clock nearby is still set to Nottingham time, four minutes and 33 seconds behind Greenwich.

Behind the house is a large walled garden, one of only two in the city centre, which members can enjoy throughout the year.

The library holds around 50,000 books, newspapers, magazines and journals, along with special and historic collections, and it continues to add new titles every year. Its early members included the mathematician and physicist George Green, and the building was the first home of Nottingham's Natural History Society. In 1841 Alfred Barber opened the first photographic studio in the Midlands in its attics.

Membership gives year-round access to the reading rooms, collections and garden, along with discounted or free entry to events. Those who are not members can still get a glimpse inside on one of the popular guided history tours, which must be booked in advance.

The events programme continues into the winter, with author Jess Kidd due to talk about her novel Little Spark on 28 November and festive events planned for December.

Details of tours, talks and how to join are on the Bromley House Library website.