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Tavistock Library

Tavistock Library in its short-lived Greek Revival building in 1821.

Tavistock Library in its new home: the Abbey gateway.

A rare early photograph of the Abbey gateway around 1850.

The majority of this text is taken from the Rev. D. P. Alford's history of the Tavistock (Subscription) Library written about 1900:

Foundation

The founder members were Mr. John Taylor, Rev. William Evans, Mr. Edward Atkyns Bray, and Mr. John Commins.

Mr. John Taylor was the brother of Mrs. Austen and cousin of Miss Martineau. He came from Norwich to Tavistock as local Manager of Wheal Friendship [a mine], and Taylor Square still keeps its name from his offices. He settled at Holwell and married Miss Anne Pring, the sister of Mrs. W. H. Harness, and the aunt of Mrs. Nicholas Rundle. In July 1823, his bust was presented to the library by Mr. John Rundle, and was ordered to be placed on the centre of the bookcase with this inscription "John Taylor, Esq. the founder of this institution." About twenty years ago the bust was removed to the landing to make way for books, and there if fell to the ground and was broken to pieces. But Mr. Taylor's grandson and namesake hearing of the accident, when he visited the library in 1893, presented the portrait engraved from Laurence, which now hangs over the fireplace.

Rev. William Evans was minister of the Abbey Chapel. He build the house at Parkwood, and kept a flourishing private school there. H

Edward Atkyns Bray, then a law student was Vicar of Tavistock from 1812 to 1857.

Mr. John Commins was made an honorary life member in January 1853. In a letter of acknowledgment he wrote, "I fervently pray this establishment (of which I was proud in its infancy to be, for some, the nursing parent) now so liberally patronised and encouraged, may ever continue to flourish and improve, to the advancement of future generations in knowledge, virtue and piety, and thereby to the sure furtherance in our locality of pure rational liberty, universal charity and eternal truth". In their zeal, the founders of the library may be over sanguine; but it better too expect to much than than too little.

EARLY MEMBERS

Besides the four founders, the original members were S. and T. Lang, Saunders and John Hornbrook, G. Cudlip, William Windeatt, Rev. William Rooker (Congregational minister) Charles Crapp, Mary Adams, William H. Harness and J. Hornbrook Gill.

In 1810 John, 6th Duke of Bedford (1802 - 1839) and his Duchess became members. The minutes often acknowledge gifts from Duke John. In May 1839, he presented to the library his portrait by Lawrence copied by a local painter, Mr. Simon Mallett and in August 1839 - shortly before his death in October that year - his bust in marble by Francis. In his letter with the bust, Duke John said, "I send it merely as a simple mark of the interest I have invariably felt in everything connected with the Town of Tavistock and particularly its Literature".

The Marquis of Tavistock, afterwards Francis, 7th Duke of Bedford, was elected in June 1818, and at the same time, his brother Lord John Russell, the great champion of Parliamentary reform. In that year Lord John was M.P. for Tavistock with his second brother Lord William, the father of Hastings, the ninth Duke.

Mr. John Rundle, also a "nursing parent" of the society, was a member in 1817.

ITS OFFICERS

"The first librarian of whom we have any record was William Tapson, a bookseller. He agreed to do the work gratis, if he might supply the books and papers; but in 1806 he was paid 4 pounds 4s. per annum.

In 1818 he was succeeded by Samuel Best, who held the office until his death in 1829.

Then came Thomas Knight; after three years he died, leaving the airs of the library in some confusion, and William Physick was appointed at 20 pounds a year.

In January, 1841, on Physick's death, Mr. William Merrifield was chosen out of five candidates. His salary was gradually raised to 30 pounds and he served the institution faithfully until old age compelled him to retire in 1871.

Mr. Merrifield's place was filled by Messrs. Reynolds, father and son in succession, until 1881, when the latter absconded, and Mr. R. Westington the late diligent and courteous librarian, was chosen out of six applicants."

"On Mr. Westington's death, early in 1895, there were one hundred and eleven candidates for the post. Out of these was chosen Mr. John Quick, the present librarian, who has done capital work in preparing this new catalogue."