House of Lords Library: A History of Law, Literature, and Legacy
Established in 1826, the Library of the House of Lords serves as a vital repository of legal knowledge and parliamentary history. What began as a modest collection of English law books has evolved over nearly two centuries into a sophisticated information hub, surviving catastrophic fires, wartime bombings, and the transition from handwritten catalogues to digital databases.
Key Facts
- Founded: 1826, following a Select Committee recommendation.
- First Librarian: John Frederic Leary.
- Architectural Home: Designed by Sir John Soane (original) and later Charles Barry (current suite).
- Notable Collections: The Truro law collection, Peel Tracts on Irish affairs, and Gillray political cartoons.
- Survival: The collection survived the Great Fire of 1834 and the Blitz of WWII.
- Modernization: Transitioned to professional librarianship and IT services following the 1977 Lord Eccles report.
The Early Years: 1826–1856
The Library was created to provide the House with essential English law books and reference materials. The first room was prepared by architect Sir John Soane in the Palace of Westminster. Under the first librarian, John Frederic Leary, the collection grew slowly, primarily consisting of law books and volumes of Hansard (the official report of all parliamentary debates). Early growth was supported by donations, such as a set of 18th-century House of Lords cases from the third Earl of Rosslyn.
Rapid growth led to overcrowding, prompting the addition of two more rooms by 1834. During this period, the French Chamber of Peers offered 1,800 books in exchange for British parliamentary publications. However, before these could be integrated, the Great Fire of October 16, 1834, destroyed much of the old Palace of Westminster. The Library's stock was saved by soldiers who passed the books in a human chain to St Margaret's Church and nearby residences.
The Library eventually moved into a permanent riverside suite of four rooms designed by Charles Barry, completed in 1848. This move was followed by the addition of books from the old Irish House of Lords and the 1851 deposit of King Charles I's original death warrant for safekeeping.
Expansion and Specialization: 1856–1904
The mid-19th century saw the arrival of significant private collections. In 1856, the widow of Lord Truro bequeathed 2,896 law books and a bust of the former Lord Chancellor, leading to the creation of the Truro Room. Another room was named after Lord Brougham, who also contributed heavily to the legal stock.
Under the long tenure of James Heard Pulman (1861–1897), the Library remained conservatively focused on law and parliamentary papers. However, Assistant Librarian William Thoms attempted to broaden the scope with historical works. A major technological shift occurred around 1893 when electricity replaced gas lighting; the previous gas lamps had caused severe damage to leather bindings that required restoration decades later.
Toward the end of the century, the Library acquired the "Peel Tracts"—two thousand documents on Irish affairs belonging to Sir Robert Peel—and a collection of Gillray political cartoons donated by Sir William Frazer in 1899.
Diversification and the World Wars: 1904–1956
The appointment of literary critic Edmund Gosse in 1904 marked a turning point. Gosse expanded the collection to include English and French literature, history, and classical Greek and Latin works. He also published the first printed catalogue of non-legal works in 1908.
Following the First World War, Librarian Charles Travis Clay (appointed 1922) introduced systemic organization. He established a Library Committee (now the Information Committee) and was the first to arrange books by subject on the shelves rather than in a haphazard fashion.
During the Second World War, Clay protected the collection from bomb damage by pushing books into shelf recesses and covering them with curtains to block flying glass. While a bomb blast blew out the Library's windows, the books remained unscathed. Rare manuscripts were temporarily evacuated to the Bodleian Library in Oxford.
Post-war innovations included the 1946 establishment of an internal bindery unit and the creation of the House of Lords Record Office (now the Parliamentary Archives) in the Victoria Tower. This led to the transfer of highly sensitive items, including the death warrant of Charles I, to more suitable archival storage.
Modernization and the Digital Age: 1956–Present
From 1956, Librarian Christopher Dobson oversaw the restoration of the main suite's woodwork and the acquisition of the Salisbury Room in 1975. The nature of the Library's work shifted in 1958 with the introduction of life peers, who increased the demand for legislative research services over traditional judicial support.
A pivotal moment arrived in 1977 with the report by the Lord Eccles Working Group. This report modernized the service by recommending the recruitment of professionally qualified librarians, the introduction of IT facilities, and the creation of a dedicated research service for members.
Under Roger Morgan (1977–1991), the Library transitioned from card catalogues to microfiche and eventually to its first online catalogue. The 1980s saw the adoption of online databases like Lexis/Nexis and the introduction of electronic indices for official papers, such as POLIS (later superseded by PIMS in 2005).
| Era | Key Focus | Major Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| 1826–1856 | Legal Foundations | Survival of 1834 Fire; move to Barry's suite. |
| 1856–1904 | Specialized Law Collections | Truro and Peel acquisitions; electrification. |
| 1904–1956 | Diversification & Protection | Inclusion of literature; WWII protection measures. |
| 1956–Present | Professional Research & IT | 1977 Eccles Report; digital cataloguing. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Library survive the Great Fire of 1834?
The books were evacuated from the burning Palace of Westminster by a line of soldiers who passed them hand-to-hand to the safety of nearby houses and St Margaret's Church.
What is the significance of the Truro Room?
The Truro Room was created to house the bequest of 2,896 law books from the widow of Lord Truro, along with a sculpted bust of the former Lord Chancellor.
How was the collection protected during World War II?
Librarian Charles Travis Clay ordered books to be pushed back into shelf recesses and covered with curtains to protect them from flying glass during explosions. Rare manuscripts were sent to the Bodleian Library.
When did the Library start using professional librarians?
Professional librarians were recruited following the recommendations of the 1977 Working Group report chaired by Lord Eccles.
What happened to the death warrant of King Charles I?
Originally deposited in the Library in 1851 for protection, it was later transferred to the Parliamentary Archives in the Victoria Tower for better storage conditions.