by Gladstones Library | Monday, 13th February 2023

Welcome to Gladstone’s Library – a haven of respite in a busy life. Train to Chester, bus to Hawarden, such a warm greeting at the door. 

by Rhian Waller | Wednesday, 30th March 2022

by Rhian Waller | Wednesday, 19th January 2022

"Andrew’s book and ideas are a significant step toward a process of healing and of building trust between Church and society."

by Gladstones Library | Wednesday, 20th November 2019

We are delighted to announce the lineup for our 2020 Hearth festival which takes place on Saturday, 1st February in the cosy common room of our residential library. This intimate literary festival offers keen writers the opportunity to pick up hints and tips, and ask questions of published authors about their experiences. It also encourages anyone interested in the world of books to find out more about the writing and publishing process.

by Gladstones Library | Thursday, 27th June 2019

Help us make the Gladfest Fringe the best it can be. Share your passions and get the community thinking together!

by Administrator | Tuesday, 14th May 2019

Tickets are now onsale for Gladfest 2019, which takes place here at Gladstone's Library, 6th – 8th September. 

by Gladstones Library | Monday, 03rd December 2018

On Friday, 14th December the Gladstone’s Library team, along with thousands of people up and down the country, will start their day by pulling on a Christmas jumper for a great cause.

by Gladstones Library | Thursday, 21st June 2018

We love picnics - who doesn’t? It’s an absolutely inarguable fact that sandwiches taste better when eaten outside in the sunshine. The same goes, funnily enough, for quiche, salad, salmon, baked potatoes and cold meats. Which, by an incredible coincidence, are the exact foods that will be on offer at Picnic Day at Gladstone’s Library on Tuesday, 3rd July!

by Gladstones Library | Wednesday, 20th June 2018

Please note, the Library will be closed for the day on Monday, 2nd July for our Annual Gladstone Lecture and Founder's Day.

by Administrator | Wednesday, 30th May 2018

by Gladstones Library | Thursday, 01st February 2018

We are pleased to be re-running last year’s successful Mother’s Day offer of a free glass of Prosecco or soft drink for all women joining us for Afternoon Tea on Mothering Sunday, 11th March.

by Gladstones Library | Wednesday, 01st November 2017

Gladstone’s Library is delighted to unveil its programme of events for 2018 including residential courses, evening talks and literary festivals galore.

The Gladstone’s Library programme holds at its core theology; history and current affairs; and nineteenth-century literary culture – the areas that William Gladstone’s collection of books and journals itself centres around. Each year we programme an eclectic range of sessions for study, education and entertainment to fit with these themes, and 2018 is no different. In fact, we think it’s one of the best.

by Gladstones Library | Tuesday, 06th June 2017

There are just 24 hours remaining to secure your stall at the Gladfest Market Place. This is the hub of independent traders, businesses, arts and crafts which takes pride of place on the back lawn of Gladstone’s Library at our Gladfest literary festival on Saturday, 2nd and Sunday, 3rd September.

by Gladstones Library | Friday, 05th May 2017

We are delighted to open Gladfest priority booking for Friends!

Gladfest takes place here at Gladstone’s Library 1st – 3rd September and we have some exciting names for the festival's fifth birthday...

by Gladstones Library | Friday, 28th April 2017

We’re approaching the deadline for submissions for our 2018 Writers in Residence and Politics in Residence programmes, from which a selection of the best contemporary authors and political writers will be chosen to reside at Gladstone’s Library to focus on their current projects.

by Gladstones Library | Wednesday, 26th April 2017

We are delighted to begin accepting expressions of interest from artists, crafters, designers and makers who want to participate in our fantastic Gladfest Market Place over the Gladfest weekend Saturday, 2nd - Sunday, 3rd September. This will be our biggest-ever Market Place and will house an eclectic range of goods and gifts from local and national stallholders.

by Gladstones Library | Tuesday, 28th March 2017

Sunshine-yellow daffodils are in full bloom which means that the milder weather is on its way! It also signifies the coming of Easter and as such, our annual Easter Craft Fair which takes place in our beautiful Grade-I listed building 10.30am – 4pm on Saturday, 15th April and is completely free to attend.

by Gladstones Library | Thursday, 09th March 2017

We were overwhelmed with the attendance and the positive feedback we received following our February and March Jelly Days. It was wonderful to see so many people working, meeting new people and really making the most of the Library space.

by Gladstones Library | Thursday, 15th December 2016

Hot off the press at Gladstone’s Library is the brand new 2017 programme of events and it’s looking like the busiest and most eclectic year to date. With residential courses on Remembering Slavery, Building a Sustainably Creative Life, considering The Great War in Symbol, Memory and God, and Putting the End of the World in Perspective; author talks from some of contemporary literature’s most exciting talents; and a range of literary and political festivals, there really is something for everyone.

by Gladstones Library | Sunday, 13th November 2016

A roaring fire, home-cooked mince pies and a gloriously dressed Christmas tree taking pride of place in the common room?

Christmas is coming to Gladstone’s Library!

by Gladstones Library | Thursday, 11th August 2016

Watch the video of Founder's Day 2016 at Gladstone's Library which asked the question Is the term 'Liberal Faith' an Oxymoron?

by Hayley Butler | Thursday, 07th July 2016

Sunshine or no sunshine, the Library is the place to be!

OK, so the heatwave we’d hoped for has not materialised quite yet but every so often those rays do break through, bathing the ground in a glorious sunlight, and July is looking promising!

Here at the Library we have events and activities for all weathers…

by Gladstones Library | Wednesday, 11th May 2016

Our final two Writers in Residence of 2016 year were Amy Liptrot (The Outrun) and Susan Barker (The Incarnations) who stayed with us in throughout March and April respectively.

by Gladstones Library | Thursday, 28th April 2016

The UK’s friendliest literary festival returns 2nd – 4th September 2016 and to all of our valued Friends, we’re offering first dibs on festival tickets and exclusive accommodation for our most popular event of the year, Gladfest, as a thank you for your generous support.

by Gladstones Library | Thursday, 07th April 2016

‘What is DemFest?’ we hear you cry! 

DemFest is the newest addition to the Gladstone's Library calendar. It’s a festival of democracy, celebrating the values of liberty and free-speech that Gladstone held so dear in his lifetime, and it’s happening from 13th May – 14th May 2016 throughout our beautiful Library building.  

by Gladstones Library | Friday, 25th March 2016

One of the Library’s most popular events returns with a democratic twist for 2016. Our Museums at Night events have seen us drink tea with Alice, ascend to poetic heights, wallow in the Gothic and shake hands with the Victorians. This year, to celebrate our first DemFest, we’re offering you to share your favourite political moments with the audience in our magnificent Reading Rooms. It’s rare that we allow talking in there so grasp this moment!

by Gladstones Library | Friday, 18th March 2016

As part of a seminar on Book Illustration organised by the Association of Independent Libraries, our very own Library Assistant Gary Butler gives a paper on the visualisation of science in nineteenth century literature at The Leeds Library on Friday, 15th April.

by Gladstones Library | Thursday, 10th March 2016

Gladstone’s Library runs an extensive and varied selection of residential courses each year. For periods ranging from overnight stays to week-long residencies, we invite you to retreat from the hustle and bustle and routine of everyday life and stay with us to find inspiration and contemplation.

by Gladstones Library | Wednesday, 20th January 2016

24th – 30th January is Breakfast Week, during which time organisations across Britain are coming together to shake up your wake up and offer something a little different in those early hours.

by Gladstones Library | Friday, 11th December 2015

The perfect weekend for writers and readers is on its way! 6th – 7th February we welcome four wordsmiths to sit beside the fire in the Gladstone Room and share their stories.

by Gladstones Library | Wednesday, 23rd September 2015

Details of our very special 2016 Writers in Residence Launch Evening which takes place at The National Liberal Club in London on Monday, 12th October.

by Gladstones Library | Monday, 07th September 2015

On Friday, 4th September, at the opening of our Gladfest literature festival, we revealed our four Writers in Residence for 2016.

by Gladstones Library | Friday, 24th July 2015

Loyd Grossman takes the chair for our Annual Gladstone Lecture as our multi-talented panel discuss whether the Library currently demonstrates the same enthusiasm for spirituality, literary culture and political discourse as the Grand Old Man himself.

Our panellists answer the question 'Does the Library remain truly ‘Gladstonian’ today?

by Gladstones Library | Wednesday, 08th July 2015

Work Experience student Tesni Jones reports on the theological and spiritual section of Monday's debate.

by Gladstones Library | Thursday, 30th April 2015

One of the benefits of being a Friend of Gladstone’s Library is the opportunity to take part in group visits to places of interest in the company of your fellow Friends.

by Gladstones Library | Tuesday, 31st March 2015

Gladstone’s Library is giving Lewis Caroll fans an exclusive opportunity to experience the library ‘after hours’ to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland.

by Gladstones Library | Friday, 02nd January 2015

Friends of Gladstone's Library trip to the Portico Library. 

by Gladstones Library | Friday, 25th July 2014

Founder’s Day is one of the most prestigious dates in the Gladstone’s Library calendar.On July 7 members of the Gladstone family, Trustees, Fellows of the Library and their special gue

by Gladstones Library | Wednesday, 21st August 2013

The first weekend of July saw an eclectic mix of doctoral students, early career scholars, and permanent post holders, from a range of institutions across the UK and the USA, converge on Gladstones Li

by Gladstones Library | Wednesday, 24th July 2013

Gladstones Library welcomed Professor A.C. Grayling to the Library as part of its Founders Day celebrations this month. As part of the days events he gave a lecture on The necessity of a liberal educa

by Gladstones Library | Wednesday, 15th February 2012

Booking for our Writer-in-Residence events is going well. Dont forget our offer of buying tickets for any four of our Writer-In-Residence events before 29 February and getting a 10% discount.

by Gladstones Library | Monday, 30th January 2012

We have a number of new events starting at the Library in February that we hope you will all come and take part in.Starting on February 12th, we are introducing a traditional Sunday Carvery t