Morrab Library, Subscription library in Penzance, England.
Morrab Library is a subscription library housed in a Victorian building within Morrab Gardens in Penzance. The structure features floor-to-ceiling shelves holding over 70,000 books and extensive archival collections.
The institution developed from two reading clubs founded in the late 1700s and was formally established in 1818. Sir Rose Price Bart of Trengwainton served as its first president and shaped its early development.
The library holds historical photographs and original prints spanning several centuries of regional history. Visitors can browse rare books and documents that reflect the cultural heritage of Cornwall and beyond.
Access to the collection requires an annual membership subscription, supported by grants and donations. Visitors should check membership details in advance to gain access to the library's resources.
The building was originally Morrab House, constructed in 1841 for Samuel Pidwell and later owned by a Member of Parliament for St Ives. This transformation shows how a private mansion became a public space for shared knowledge.
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