Abingdon

Abingdon School, Park Crescent, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 1DE. TEL 01235 521563. Email library@ abingdon.org.uk.

*The school was founded in or before 1256, and moved to its present premises in 1870. The bulk of the school library founded in 1740 by subscription still survives. Other rare books were given by former pupils, many in the 18th cent., which still bear elaborate inscriptions recording the donor's name and the date, or by French prisoners of war confined at Abingdon during the Seven Years War (1756–63); some have been added by later purchase or benefactions. The rare books collection numbers c.100 books, 1535–late 19th cent., largely humanities, with special strengths in classics and early school books, including works by Thomas Godwyn, a Headmaster of the School (1587–1642), and works by Peter Heylyn, Chaplain to Charles I, who lived in Lacies Court (now the Headmaster's house) during the Cromwellian period.

Separate handlist of rare books; includes notes of provenance.

Radley College, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 2HR. TEL. 01235 543041. Email archives@ radley.org.uk. Web www.radley.org.uk/ library.

*Richard Morgan library. The College was founded in 1847 and rare books have been donated to the library since then by various benefactors. The library's stock totals c.34,000 v., of which c.1,000 are rare. These include very few 16th- and 17th-cent. items; a collection of Italian imprints; classics; Foulis press books of the 18th cent.; a printed Roman Psalter by Plantin, 1717, and Antiphonal by Plantin, 1773; an incomplete set of ‘Cheap Edition’ of Dickens, 1847–52, boxed in original parts; plate books, especially ornithology and topography, of the 19th cent.; a collection of 19th-cent. works of the Founder, William Sewell and his family; fine private press folios of the 20th cent.; and the Simon Heneage Walker Collection of 20th-cent. books on cartoons and caricatures. In-house database.

Accrington

Accrington Library, St James’ Street, Accrington, Lancs BB5 1NQ. TEL 0300 123 6703. Email accrington.library@ lancashire.gov.uk. www.lancashire.gov.uk/ libraries.

Community history collection. Over 7,000 titles covering the Hyndburn district, including Accrington and the surrounding towns. Books, pamphlets, maps, plans, commemorative literature, political and election publicity, early directories, electoral registers and poll books, and local newspapers on microfilm. The Richard Broughton collection of books on local history is incorporated in the main collections.