Gladstone's Library: making study breaks accessible

When William Gladstone established his library, he wanted to ensure that anyone who would benefit from a residential period of study at Hawarden should not be prevented from doing so by financial constraint. There are various ways we endeavour to uphold Gladstone’s wishes to keep the library affordable to those who need it most:

The collection is free to use
We offer discounts to students, clergy and members of the Society of Authors
We offer residential scholarships each year

Scholarships

All scholarships bar the General Scholarship have been awarded, and all applicants will have been notified by Friday 15th November 2024. Applicants to the General Scholarship will be notified from Monday 18th November 2024.

Please note that the submission period for scholarships to be taken in 2025 is now closed.

The submission period for scholarships to be taken in 2025 was open from 9am BST on Monday 3rd June, with a deadline of 11.45pm BST on Wednesday 31st July 2024. The Gladstone's Library team will review all scholarship applications throughout August and September, and will aim to let everyone know by early November 2024. All scholarship applications must be submitted via our online form in the link above (live from 9am on Monday 3rd June).

Gladstone’s Library is indebted to the generosity of many benefactors who have endowed our Scholarship programme. We hope these scholarships primarily enable those who would find the cost of staying at Gladstone’s Library difficult or prohibitive.

For a list of available scholarships please see below:

The Miranda Kaufmann Black British History Scholarship: For research into the histories of people of African and/or Caribbean origin or descent in the United Kingdom, making connections between the local and global aspects of British History. Please note, this scholarship is available exclusively for people who are United Kingdom Minority Ethnic/Global Majority Heritage. Two-week scholarship, including travel expenses of up to £150.

The Eileen Stamper Scholarship: For research and study in to historical or contemporary slavery. Two-week scholarship.

The Jim Cotter Scholarship: For reflection and research (including the use of the Jim Cotter Archive). The scholarships are to be awarded for: broadening the understanding of differing approaches to spirituality; encouraging inclusivity in particular regard to those marginalised by society; and modernising the interpretation of religious materials to improve understanding and relevance. Two-week scholarship.

The Drew Scholarship: In the first instance, for research into aspects of the life, ideas or political / intellectual / spiritual legacy of William Ewart Gladstone. One-week scholarship.

The Jeffrey David Engel Scholarship: Awarded, in the first instance, to scholars from the Diocese of Liverpool studying pastoral care and counselling. One-week scholarship.

The General Scholarship Fund: To support research into the role of conversation in the development of community, particularly communities characterised by disagreement. One-week scholarship.

The Gladstone Scholarship: For scholars from Bulgaria or Armenia, or of Bulgarian or Armenian heritage. One-week scholarship.

The Richard L. Hills Scholarship: For research into Theology’s relationship to Science / Technology. One-week scholarship.

The Tom Jarman Scholarship: In the first instance, for students and graduates of Bristol University, Wesley College Bristol, Bristol Baptist College and students of the Open University. One-week scholarship.

The Revd Canon Dr Stewart Lawton Memorial Scholarship: Awarded for research into one of the following areas: The Liberal Catholic Tradition in Anglicanism; the Interaction of Science and Religion or and European Philosophical Theology. One-week scholarship.

The Revd Dr Murray McGregor Memorial Scholarship: Awarded to those working on any aspect of Theology. First consideration will be given to applications from graduates, post-graduate students and members of the academic staff of the University of Edinburgh and thereafter from other Scottish universities. Two-week scholarship.

The Bishop J. R. H. Moorman Scholarship: Intended primarily for those researching Francis of Assisi or the Franciscan Order, where access to the Moorman Franciscan Collection would prove beneficial. One-week scholarship.

The Veronica Powles Memorial Scholarship: For either members of the Mothers’ Union or for study and research into women’s ministry and issues. One-week scholarship.

The Sara Richards and Joseph Boughey Scholarship: Awarded for research into the past, present and future of libraries, reading and archives, with particular reference to material facilities such as collections or library buildings. A wide range of possible subjects and approaches is encouraged. In the first instance, the scholarship is intended for end-users of libraries or archives, rather than employees. Preference will be given to those working on their first output and/or publication, and those resident in North Wales (Flintshire, Denbighshire, Wrexham, Conwy, Gwynedd, Ynys Môn), the Liverpool City Region, Cheshire West and Chester, Warrington, Greater Manchester or West Yorkshire. One-week scholarship.

The Dr Daisy Ronco Scholarship: For research into Nineteenth Century Studies with an emphasis on the role of women. One-week scholarship.

The Canon Denys Ruddy Memorial Scholarship: For study in Theology, Liturgy, Spirituality, or Christianity and The Arts. One-week scholarship.

The Vera Stantan Scholarship: For research into the ecumenical movement or interfaith dialogue. One-week scholarship.

The Canon Symonds Memorial Scholarship: For those studying in the fields of Christian Liturgy, Biblical Studies or Church History. One-week scholarship.

The Father John Thorold Scholarship: For study in spirituality or liturgy. One-week scholarship.

The Ernest Walder Memorial Scholarship: For research in the Arts and Humanities. One-week scholarship.

The scholarships have been given by the benefactors to ensure that research into the subjects important to them will be supported by the Library in perpetuity. If a suitable applicant is not found for a specific scholarship, the award will be held over until the following year.

Applications outside of the specified subject areas will not be considered.

Please read the following Terms and Conditions carefully:

For any enquiries regarding our Scholarship Programme please contact: [email protected]

How to Apply: Applications must be made via the online form, found by clicking the link at the top of the page. All queries and questions should be directed to [email protected], with ‘Scholarships 2025’ in the subject field.
Maximum Applications: Each applicant may apply for a maximum of two scholarships. Only one scholarship will be awarded per applicant.
Judging: Scholarships are awarded by an internal panel, drawn from Gladstone’s Library’s academic and professional staff. There will be a minimum of two individuals on the panel, one of which will always be the Library’s Warden unless exceptional inability to fulfil that criteria means that scholarships would not be awarded.
Feedback on Application: With an average of two hundred applications received, we cannot comment on individual applications.
Length of Award: Scholarships are awarded according to each scholarship’s stipulations. A two-week award may be split if there is a very strong field.
Accommodation: All scholarships are awarded a single ensuite room. Only two rooms at the Library are on the ground floor, with the rest on the first and second floors. Applicants should detail room requirements in their application.
Collection Use: Although most of our collections are housed on open-access shelving, access to archives and special collections must be booked well in advance of your scholarship. Please see the relevant webpages or contact [email protected] for information.
Travel: The majority of our scholarships do not make provision for travel and applicants should ensure that they have a reasonable idea of likely expenses before applying.
Partners: Partners are welcome to stay at the same time and in the same room as the scholarship holder but will be charged a rate of £50 per night for bed and breakfast, with all other meals paid for separately. We will need to be informed of partners at the time of booking the scholarship award.
Charges during your stay: As well as the room, the residency rate covers the following costs: Continental breakfast, two-course lunch, two-course evening meal (both with tea and filter coffee). All other refreshments are chargeable, and the bill settled on departure.
Accepting an offer: if you receive a scholarship offer from Gladstone’s Library, you must have agreed and booked the dates of your stay within six weeks of the offer. We understand that in certain circumstances this may not be possible and extensions can be made, but if a scholarship has not been finalised by March of the year following the offer, the scholarship will be withdrawn.
Post-scholarship commitments: We will be in touch during and after your visit to discuss how you may like to reflect on your stay with us.

For further information on how Gladstone's Library can support you please click here.