Gladstone's Library
LightNews LightNews
banner
gladlib.bsky.social
Gladstone's Library
@gladlib.bsky.social
15K followers 690 following 1.9K posts
A unique residential library in North Wales with beautiful Reading Rooms, Food for Thought restaurant, accommodation and more.
Read, write, rest!

linktr.ee/gladlib
Posts Replies Media Videos
gladlib.bsky.social
Did you know...

Gladstone's Library is an Independent Charity?

Every time you visit and buy a book, have a coffee, or give a donation you are helping to support our work.
A Gladstone's Library mug, held in front of the Gladstone's Library building. The mug has an illustration of the building, with 'Gladstone's Library' written below. Three coasters laid out on a wooden table. The coaster includes the spines of books, which read various phrases, such as 'WEG', 'Theology, Religion, History, Politics, Literature, Literary Culture', 'Gladstone's Library', 'Church Lane, Hawarden', 'William Ewart Gladstone'.
October 5, 2026 at 3:30 PM
gladlib.bsky.social
🎄 Enjoy a festive Christmas Lunch from Tuesday 1st December to Sunday 20th December (12pm – 2:30pm) at Gladstone's Library!

For more information and to book, please visit our website (link is in the first comment, and our bio) or call 01244 532350 🎁
A photo of a bust of William Gladstone decorated in a Christmas hat and a garland. A Christmas cracker is positioned in front of the bust, with a hand off to the side pulling the other end.
October 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM
gladlib.bsky.social
Since September 2025, we have delivered over 78 engagement sessions and events, as a part of our Engagement and Learning Programme!

These have included:
🐰 Family fun days
✍️ All-day events
📚️ Individual sessions (often with schools)
🌙 Evening Events (often with youth and community groups!)
October 3, 2026 at 11:01 AM
gladlib.bsky.social
We are looking to recruit a Kitchen Assistant to join our Food for Thought team. You will work 20 hours per week, at £12.71 per hour, in shifts across any day of the week including weekends.

Visit our website -> About Us -> Work at Gladstone’s Library for the full Job Description and how to apply.
A poster with a background image of Gladstone's Library. Text reads Work With Us! Underneath is the same text as the caption, plus the URL https://www.gladstoneslibrary.org/about/work-at-gladstones-library/
October 2, 2026 at 8:00 AM
gladlib.bsky.social
Did you know?... Gladstone's Library has an on site restaurant, Food for Thought, which is open 7 days a week! Open to the public from 10am-5pm each day, our team offers a delicious array of menus for brunch, lunch, treats and afternoon tea. For our residents, we also serve breakfast and dinner.
A person is tucking into a bowl of apple, walnut and feta salad.
October 1, 2026 at 3:00 PM
gladlib.bsky.social
If you have ever dreamed of building your own home from scratch, then this may be the book for you! 💭

‘How to Build a House’, (1876) is translated from the French edition, written by M. Eugène Viollet le Duc. This book is an ‘architectural novelette’ that covers all aspects of building a house.
September 29, 2026 at 12:01 PM
gladlib.bsky.social
Autumn might be just around the corner, but it's been bright and sunny here in Hawarden!

If you were here...what would your dream day at Gladstone's Library look like?
An image of the entrance to Gladstone's Library, in front of a bright blue sky. There are purple flowers lining the path. A woman is walking towards the entrance. The left exterior of Gladstone's Library, in front of a bright blue sky. The image includes the Reading Rooms wing of the library, and the Victorian weather vane. A large statue of William Gladstone. on the grounds of Gladstone's Library, in front of a blue sky.
September 24, 2026 at 10:30 AM
gladlib.bsky.social
There are still some tickets available for our upcoming course: Blessed are the Doubters, with Rev Canon Dr. Andrea Russell and Professor Ian Bradley!
September 22, 2026 at 11:01 AM
gladlib.bsky.social
Enjoy 15% off your 2026 stay at Gladstone's Library!

To celebrate the completion of our historic roof restoration, book to stay between the 21st September and 21st December and receive 15% off your accommodation!

Visit our website and use code CELEB15 at checkout to claim your discount. T&Cs apply
A poster with photos of the Gladstone's Library building, a bedroom with a desk by the window, a plate of avocado on toast, and the Reading Rooms at Gladstone's Library. All text is repeated in the caption.
September 21, 2026 at 9:45 AM
gladlib.bsky.social
📣 Now Hiring: Events, Conferences and Marketing Administrator (12-Month Fixed Term) 📣

Salary: £23,500pa

Contract: Full-time (34.5 hours per week) role for a fixed 12-month period

Application deadline: Friday 25th September at 1pm

Please visit our website for full details and how to apply.
A poster with the background of the building of Gladstone's Library framed by flowers. Along the top reads 'Work With Us!'. The text reads: Now Hiring: Events, Conferences and Marketing Administrator You will work across the breadth of the library to deliver strong administrative support for our group bookings and events programme. We are looking for someone with an eye for detail, excellent communication skills, who is highly organised and proactive. This a full-time (34.5 hours per week) role for a fixed 12-month period with a salary of £23,500pa. www.gladstoneslibrary.org/about/work-at-gladstones-library/
September 18, 2026 at 4:08 PM
gladlib.bsky.social
Join us at Gladstone’s Library for an enchanting afternoon with storyteller CORRYN, Spinner of Stories, Weaver of Worlds! 🕸️ 🕷️
September 16, 2026 at 4:00 PM
gladlib.bsky.social
Tickets are still available for our Talk, Writing the World from the Inside, with Laura Beatty!

Join writer Laura Beatty for an evening of considering how the world talks to us. As she says, ‘when we write about the world, we tend to write about it from the outside, as if we were just observers...
An advertisement for a talk at Gladstone's Library. The text reads 'Writing the World from the Inside, a Talk with Laura Beatty, Writer in Residence 2026. 22nd September, 7pm - 8pm, tickets from £18. To purchase tickets, visit our website'. There is also an image of Laura Beatty, and her book. Looking for Theophrastus.
September 9, 2026 at 2:02 PM
gladlib.bsky.social
Bookings for Christmas Lunch 2026 are now open! 🎄

🍽️ Enjoy a festive Christmas Lunch from Tuesday 1st December to Friday 20th December (12pm – 2:30pm).
An advertisement for Christmas Lunch at Gladstone's Library. The text reads 'Christmas Lunch at Gladstone's Library. Bookings are now open! 1st December - 20th December 2026. Pre-booking essential. £10 deposit per person. For more information and to book, please visit our website!. The images show two people enjoying a Christmas roast, and a Christmas Pudding next to a Christmas tree.
September 7, 2026 at 11:01 AM
gladlib.bsky.social
Following her stay as Writer in Residence, Alison Binney has written a wonderful blog post about her experience staying with us, while reflecting on the importance of libraries.

To read Alison's blog post in full, please visit our website (link is in our bio!)
September 5, 2026 at 12:00 PM
gladlib.bsky.social
Tickets are still available for our public lecture, 'Come Holy Ghost': Inspiration and Artistry in Devotional Poetry, with Professor Helen Wilcox!
September 3, 2026 at 4:30 PM
gladlib.bsky.social
Tickets are still available for our course, Times and Seasons: Poetry for the Church's Year, with Professor Helen Wilcox and Reverend Canon Dr. Judith Maltby!

📖 This three-day course will consider the church’s year as explored and expressed in the rich tradition of devotional poetry in English.
September 2, 2026 at 3:30 PM
gladlib.bsky.social
📣 Garfield Weston Foundation is kindly supporting Gladstone’s Library’s core costs in 2026/27 - Mae Sefydliad Garfield Weston yn cynorthwyo gyda chostau craidd Llyfrgell Gladstone yn 2026/27 📣

@westonfdn.bsky.social
A notice, which reads: 'Announcement: Garfield Weston Foundation is now supporting Gladstone's Library!'.
September 1, 2026 at 11:02 AM
gladlib.bsky.social
Our Gladfest Literary Festival is taking place TOMORROW! 📢

We can not wait to see you in our talks, in our creative workshops, grabbing a bite to eat in Food for Thought, and more.

🎟️ If you still want to join us, a limited run of tickets will be available on the door for each of our talks!
August 28, 2026 at 9:00 AM
gladlib.bsky.social
A huge thank you to everyone who supported our Befriend a Book 2025 campaign! Thanks to your generous donations we have been able to conserve the multivolume Diary and Correspondence of John Evelyn (4 volumes), part of our nineteenth-century collection of books owned by William Ewart Gladstone.
A split page. In the top half is a stack of four books, the multivolume Diary and Correspondence of John Evelyn. The spines are cracked, and visibly damaged. The bottom book has most of its spine missing. Text reads 'before'. In the bottom half is a stack of the multivolume Diary and Correspondence of John Evelyn fully restored. Text reads 'after'. A book in pieces. The Diary and Correspondence of John Evelyn is shown, with pages torn out and a part of the spine broken off, against a black background. A volume of the Diary and Correspondence of John Evelyn. It is open to the first page, which includes marbled paper. On the left is the bookplate of Herbert John Gladstone (which depicts an illustration of him writing at a desk). On the right page, the bookplate of Gladstone's Library, which reads 'W.E. Gladstone, St Deiniol's Library'.
August 25, 2026 at 11:01 AM
gladlib.bsky.social
📸 Did you know?...

Our Reading Rooms are a rare commodity: a silent library. They are made up of the Theology Room, the History Room, the House of Wisdom and our annex with everyone's favourite: rolling stacks!

This photo shows a section of our History Room in our Grade I listed building.
A galleried Reading Room with wooden floor, vaulted ceiling and bright lights with four armchairs in the centre, surrounded by bookshelves
August 23, 2026 at 11:01 AM
gladlib.bsky.social
Thanks to over 70 people who generously donated towards our Save the Roof campaign, our unique Victorian cupola and weathervane have been fully restored!

Without your help and support, this vital piece of work would not have been completed.

Do take a look at our Wall of Thanks when you next visit!
An image of Andrea Russell, Warden of Gladstone's Library, wearing a hard hat and holding a section of the weathervane, before it is restored. A section of the cupola, after its restoration. It is made of wood and includes decorative flourishes. An image of the weathervane, ready to be restored. It is red and green from rust and corrosion. An image of the cupola, covered in scaffolding.
August 20, 2026 at 12:01 PM
gladlib.bsky.social
Tomorrow at Gladstone's Library, join us for a fun-filled day of activities for all ages!

🗓️ Thursday 20th August
🕑️ Drop in from 10am-2pm
🎟️ Free. Tickets aren’t required. Register your interest on our website to help our planning!
A poster with the details listed in the caption. Around the wording is an illustrated sun, flowers and squiggly lines. A collage of photos showing a previous Community Fun Day at Gladstone's Library with drawing, clay modelling, notebook making, garden games and reading sessions.
August 19, 2026 at 9:00 AM
gladlib.bsky.social
REMINDER! 📢

Book to stay with us during our Gladfest Literary Festival and receive complimentary tickets to two Gladfest 2026 talks!
A poster with the header 'Gladfest the UK's friendliest Literary Festival' Saturday 29th August 2026. Text reads 'BOOK TO STAY WITH US ON FRIDAY 28TH OR SATURDAY 29TH AUGUST AND... RECEIVE COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS TO two GLADFEST 2026 TALKS! *One ticket per person to two Gladfest 2026 talks. This does not include meals or refreshments. Book now! Gladstoneslibrary.org/accommodation 01244 532350'
August 18, 2026 at 11:00 AM
gladlib.bsky.social
Did you know...

Readers can access our Reading Rooms with their access cards from 9am-5pm Mondays-Saturdays. It is free to sign up as a Reader, you simply need to bring two forms of ID and complete a registration form.

1/3
August 15, 2026 at 9:00 AM
gladlib.bsky.social
We are delighted to invite Nikita Gill to speak at this year's Gladfest, taking place Saturday 29th August! 📖

🔮 Nikita Gill is a No.1 New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of Hekate, a retelling of the Greek Goddess of magic and necromancy.
An advert for Gladfest, which includes a picture of Nikita Gill, her novel, Hekate, and the text 'Gladfest, The UK's Friendliest Literary Festival, Saturday 29th August 2026. Meet the Author: Nikita Gill. A picture of Nikita Gill, her novel, Hekate, and text that reads 'Nikita Gill is a No.1 New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of Hekate, a retelling of the Greek Goddess of magic and necromancy. She has been nominated for the Carnegie medal, shortlisted and longlisted for several awards and been featured in every major literary festival in the UK. In her talk, Nikita will explore why ‘dark’ goddesses, such as Hekate, Nyx and Lilith, have captured the imagination of people across the world. What is it about the witch that fascinates and reviles us culturally?'.
August 14, 2026 at 4:00 PM