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Our Collections
Welcome to the Newcastle Collection
An interactive experience of books from the Newcastle Collection
The third City Library in Newcastle opened in June 2009 and “the jewel in the crown” of this new building is the Newcastle Collection, a varied range of books, illustrations and artifacts which the Library has acquired over the years, providing us with a continuous link between the past and the future.
With the help of a major grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund these unique collections will be conserved and made more accessible. This website will be a gateway to these special collections – welcome! We hope you enjoy the experience.
Special Compositions for the New Library
Listen to the Newcastle Schools’ Music service brass ensemble perform two special pieces of music to commemorate the opening of the new library. New chaper and Turning the page”
The key special collections featured on this website are:-
The Bewick Collection
The work of artist and engraver Thomas Bewick (1753 -1828) and his pupils, collected by John William Pease over 40 years. Of national and international significance, described as the finest and most complete collection (of printed material) now in existence
The Collinson Collection
View the Collinsion Collection
Three volumes of detailed watercolour paintings of the flora of Northumberland and Durham
The Crawhall Collection
Artistic work from three generations of the Crawhall family, one of the most ancient families in the region
Gibsone’s Conches
A collection of fine watercolours of species of sea-shells, painted in meticulous detail by local entrepreneur George Gibsone and acquired in 1890
The Mackey Collection
A unique library of locally printed works, notably local tracts of the 1640 -1660 period relating to the activities of the Scottish army in the North East of England
The Merrifield Library
View the Merrifield Collection
A collection of 18th and 19th century items on science and mathematics and including pre -1701 material
The Thomlinson Library
View the Thomlinson Collection
The first ‘public library’ in Newcastle. Originally the private library of Dr Robert Thomlinson (1668 – 1748) and bequeathed to the people of Newcastle
Other Books of Interest
There are many individual items in the Newcastle Collection, from a dark punishment book to an 18th century cookery book.
