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The Library’s
benefactors
Many people supported the Library
and donated books over the years. Lord Braybrooke
was president of the Society for about fifty years,
and after his death his widow, Florence, Lady Braybrooke,
presented some two or three hundred volumes to the
Library in his memory. Among these are some very fine
specimens of early nineteenth-century book-bindings
and some high quality art books.
One of the greatest benefactors
of the Library was the town’s Quaker banker,
George Stacey Gibson, and his family. Gibson purchased
many books for the library from the Agricultural and
Horticultural societies to which he belonged, and
on his death in 1883 4,000 of his books were left
to the Library, and another 3,000 were given by his
family in 1922. Gibson also bequeathed 2 & 4 King
Street to the Literary and Scientific Institute.
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