Lindley Library
Encyclopedia
The Lindley Library is the largest horticultural
library in the world.
The main part of the library is based at 80 Vincent Square
, London, within the headquarters of its custodian, the Royal Horticultural Society
(RHS); the site also includes Lindley Hall
, one of the Royal Horticultural Halls. The library also has reading rooms at the RHS' four gardens at Wisley
, Harlow Carr, Hyde Hall
and Rosemoor
. RHS members may borrow books from the London collection.
The Upper Reading Room is open to the public, and holds the 20th-century material available for loans, along with gardening magazines from around the world. Visitors must register if they wish to use the Lower Reading Room which houses historical collections.
In 1995 the RHS proposed to relocate the main collection from London to Wisley, but architect Rick Mather
redesigned the accommodation to make better use of the basement. His design was accepted and the project was carried out between 1997 and 2001. The Heritage Lottery Fund
assisted the renovation with a grant, one condition of which was that the library should be opened up to public access.
The library is based upon the book collection of English botanist John Lindley
, and has many rare books dating from 1514. It also includes other media such as garden guidebooks, trade catalogues, postcards and press cuttings. As well as horticulture, the collection covers flora
, birds and other related subjects. The London site also includes the RHS' collection of paintings and photographs.
The London collection suffered minor damage in a fire in July 2011. No valuable works were lost.
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
library in the world.
The main part of the library is based at 80 Vincent Square
Vincent Square
Vincent Square is a large grass-covered square in Westminster, London, England, covering 13 acres. It provides playing fields for Westminster School, which privately owns it....
, London, within the headquarters of its custodian, the Royal Horticultural Society
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
(RHS); the site also includes Lindley Hall
Lindley Hall, London
Lindley Hall in Elverton Street, Westminster is the older of the two Royal Horticultural Halls owned by the R.H.S. Enterprises Limited which is part of the charity Royal Horticultural Society in central London...
, one of the Royal Horticultural Halls. The library also has reading rooms at the RHS' four gardens at Wisley
RHS Garden, Wisley
The Royal Horticultural Society's garden at Wisley in the English county of Surrey south of London, is one four public gardens run by the Society, the others being Harlow Carr, Hyde Hall and Rosemoor...
, Harlow Carr, Hyde Hall
RHS Garden, Hyde Hall
The Royal Horticultural Society's garden at Hyde Hall in the English county of Essex east of London. It is one of four public gardens run by the Society, alongside Wisley, Harlow Carr, and Rosemoor. In the year ended 31 January 2010 it received 130,011 visitors....
and Rosemoor
Rosemoor Garden
Rosemoor Garden is an internationally renowned collection of gardens in North Devon, England. The Lady Anne Palmer created the original garden of in 1959, and developed it over a 30 year period. The garden was first opened to the public in 1967, under the National Gardens Scheme...
. RHS members may borrow books from the London collection.
The Upper Reading Room is open to the public, and holds the 20th-century material available for loans, along with gardening magazines from around the world. Visitors must register if they wish to use the Lower Reading Room which houses historical collections.
In 1995 the RHS proposed to relocate the main collection from London to Wisley, but architect Rick Mather
Rick Mather
Rick Mather is an American-born architect working in England. Born in Portland, Oregon and awarded a B.arch. at the University of Oregon in 1961, he came to London in 1963 where he founded his own practice, Rick Mather Architects, a decade later....
redesigned the accommodation to make better use of the basement. His design was accepted and the project was carried out between 1997 and 2001. The Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
assisted the renovation with a grant, one condition of which was that the library should be opened up to public access.
The library is based upon the book collection of English botanist John Lindley
John Lindley
John Lindley FRS was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.-Early years:Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley was a nurseryman and pomologist and ran a commercial nursery garden...
, and has many rare books dating from 1514. It also includes other media such as garden guidebooks, trade catalogues, postcards and press cuttings. As well as horticulture, the collection covers flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
, birds and other related subjects. The London site also includes the RHS' collection of paintings and photographs.
The London collection suffered minor damage in a fire in July 2011. No valuable works were lost.
External links
- Lindley Library, RHS official website