Leighton Library

The Leighton Library, or Bibliotheca Leightoniana, in The Cross, Dunblane, is the oldest purpose-built library in Scotland and also has a well-documented history as one of the earliest public-subscription libraries in Scotland. Its collection of around 4,000 volumes and 78 manuscripts from the 16th to 19th century is founded on the personal collection of Robert Leighton, Minister at Newbattle, Principal of Edinburgh University, Bishop of Dunblane and Archbishop of Glasgow. Robert Leighton's personal collection consisted of 1,400 books and the Leighton Library was built to host the books which had been left to Dunblane Cathedral.