A unique collection saved for the nation.

This event will take place at the British Library. It will be simultaneously live streamed on the British Library platform. Tickets may be booked either to attend in person (physical), or to watch on our platform (online) either live or within 48 hours on catch up.  Viewing links will be sent out shortly before the event.

The online version of this event will be live captioned.

An evening celebrating the recent acquisition for the nation of the Blavatnik Honresfield Library and its extraordinary collection of manuscripts by the Brontës, Jane Austen, Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott.

The event features the screening of a brand new film revealing the contents and story of the Library and conversation with Lizzie Dunford (Jane Austen’s House), Ralph McLean (National Library of Scotland), Kathryn Sutherland (University of Oxford) and Rebecca Yorke (Brontë Society & Brontë Parsonage Museum), chaired by Shahidha Bari.

The Library was formed towards the end of the 19th century by William Law (1836-1901), a Rochdale mill owner, who created an exceptional collection of English and Scottish manuscripts and printed books that had the Brontës at its heart, as well as manuscripts in the hands of Jane Austen, Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott and a significant collection of printed books. It has been largely inaccessible for the last 80 years, until the work of Friends of the National Libraries enabled the collection to be purchased for the nation in 2021.

It is now known as The Blavatnik Honresfield Library, with its content shared between The Brontë Parsonage Museum, Haworth; The Brotherton Library, University of Leeds; The British Library, London; The Bodleian Library, Oxford; Jane Austen’s House, Chawton; The National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh and Glasgow; Abbotsford: The Home of Walter Scott, Melrose, Scotland; The National Library of Scotland and The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway (National Trust for Scotland). In addition, around 1,700 printed books have been donated by the Friends of the National Libraries to nearly 70 libraries across the UK.

If you’re attending in person, please arrive no later than 15 minutes before the start time of this event. We are committed to the safety of our event bookers. Find out how we are welcoming you to the Library safely. 

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