Although a resident of Westgate ( and one-time occasional user of the
library) I feel obliged to point out that the village subscription library
wasn't of course Britain's oldest - the one at Wanlockhead goes back to the
1750's, and I believe the Leadhills one is earlier than Westgate's as well.
Westgate Library was founded in 1788. What's interesting is the similar
social history of the two lead mining communities and the links between lead
mining, Methodism and literacy. I hope we may have an exhibition on the
history of Westgate Library at Killhope next year.
Regards, Ian
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