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Explore our Events Programme for 2025

by Rhian Waller | Friday, 22nd November 2024

Literature fans are invited to explore a line-up of poetry, fiction and nonfiction writing events.

The 2025 events calendar at Gladstone’s Library in Flintshire, Hawarden launched this week.

It includes talks, writing masterclasses and Hearth, an all-day mini literature festival.

Hearth 2025 is on the way!

by Rhian Waller | Monday, 11th November 2024

Fiction, memoir and poetry will feature at our Hearth mini literature festival on Saturday 1st February 2025.

Hearth festival, named because it is held beside the fireplace in the Library’s Gladstone Room lounge, has taken place annually since 2013.

Online Bookshop Launched

by Rhian Waller | Friday, 11th October 2024

We are pleased to announce that Gladstone’s Library has launched a new online bookshop thanks to bookshop.org.

Writers in Residence 2025: Revealed!

by Rhian Waller | Thursday, 26th September 2024

We are delighted to reveal the names of our 2025 Writers in Residence. 

More than 150 writers applied for the opportunity to stay at the Library for up to a month to work on their next book.

Today, we can announce that the 2025 Writers in Residence at Gladstone’s Library are...

Building Work at Gladstone's Library

by Rhian Waller | Friday, 30th August 2024

Building work has been carried out on the Library grounds over the last two weeks. We commissioned specialist contractors to repair the drainage at the front of this Grade I listed building and to stabilise the ground beneath the main porch.

Open Doors Is Back

by Rhian Waller | Tuesday, 27th August 2024


Gladstone’s Library in Hawarden, Flintshire is taking part in Open Doors 2024, which takes place on Saturday 14th September.

Scholarship Deadline Approaching

by Rhian Waller | Thursday, 04th July 2024

We are inviting researchers and writers to apply to stay at our Library as part of a series of scholarship schemes.

Applications are open for 20 scholarships at Gladstone’s Library in Hawarden, North Wales.

Successful applicants will spend up to two weeks here, and make use of our three Reading Rooms, thousands of books and archival collections items, and our on-site restaurant, in 2025.

Gladstone's Library Welcomes Prestigious Diamond Dagger Award to Its Archives

by Rhian Waller | Thursday, 13th June 2024


This week, the team at Gladstone's Library in Hawarden, Flintshire, announced the addition of the esteemed Diamond Dagger Award to its archives.

This prestigious award, presented annually by the Crime Writers' Association (CWA) alongside twelve other Dagger awards, is a lifetime achievement award recognising outstanding contributions to crime writing in the English language.

Gladfest is on holiday in 2024

by Rhian Waller | Friday, 12th January 2024

Thanks to a £777,246 grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) Covid-19 Response Fund, our focus in 2024 will be on making major repairs to our historic Library.

Remembering Sara

by Rhian Waller | Tuesday, 19th December 2023

Christmas is a time for remembering. Here, we remember a particular Friend to the Library. In mid-October, one of our supporters Joseph Boughey led a Remembrance Event for his beloved wife, Sara Richards, at the Library.

Scholarship Applications Open

by Rhian Waller | Wednesday, 02nd August 2023

Would a week at a residential Library benefit your studies? We are pleased to announce that our 2024 Scholarships are now open for application. 

Friends Scheme Refresh

by Rhian Waller | Sunday, 02nd July 2023

Our Friends are a deeply cherished part of the Library community. Many have loyally supported us for decades, while others have joined us recently. All of them are sympathetic to the vision of the Library, which includes offering books, archives and spaces for study and reflection, to those who otherwise would not be able to find them. Friends donations are crucial to helping us do that. 

Former President of Armenia Speaks at Founder's Day

by Rhian Waller | Wednesday, 24th May 2023

THE FORMER President of Armenia visited a Flintshire library to pay respects to its founder, William Gladstone. Dr Armen Sarkissian, who was President of Armenia from 2018 to 2022, visited Gladstone’s Library in Hawarden on May 22 to mark the Library’s Founder’s Day celebrations.  

The Case of the Disappearing Tickets

by Rhian Waller | Wednesday, 10th May 2023

Tickets for a crime writing festival are “flying out”!Alibis In the Archive, a crime and detective writing festival, will take place at Gladstone’s Library in Hawarden, Flintshire on June 9 to 11.

Meet our Writers in Residence for 2023

by Rhian Waller | Wednesday, 23rd November 2022

The 2023 Writer in Residence programme at the Library, based in Hawarden, Flintshire, will see writers live and work within the Grade I listed neo-Gothic Victorian building for up to a month.

A Warm Welcome to Our New Warden - Croeso Andrea!

by Rhian Waller | Tuesday, 25th October 2022

This week Revd Dr Andrea Russell became the first new Warden at Gladstone's Library in 25 years - and is also the first woman to take up the role - a historic moment for this unique place of learning (post in Welsh and English)

New Scholarships Launched

by Rhian Waller | Friday, 30th September 2022

We are very pleased to announce that two new scholarships designed to help researchers uncover and record histories of Black British people, and enslavement, have been launched at Gladstone’s Library.

Warden Announcement

by Rhian Waller | Thursday, 07th July 2022

The Trustees of Gladstone's Library are delighted to announce and confirm the appointment of a new Warden and Director of Gladstone's Library.

Farewell to Peter Francis

by Rhian Waller | Thursday, 07th July 2022

Peter Francis, who joined the Library in the late 90s, has overseen many changes during his tenure. 

Fellowship Presented at Founder's Day

by Rhian Waller | Wednesday, 06th July 2022

Mr Burgess quipped that he thought the fellowship was “basically for good attendance” but added, “Peter and the Library have been kind to me over the years, and both are near my heart, so I am very delighted and a little embarrassed to be offered a fellowship.

2022 Writers in Residence Announced

by Rhian Waller | Saturday, 18th December 2021

Gladstone’s Library will welcome five Writers in Residence as the initiative enters its tenth year.

The successful applicants, who will take up their places in 2022, impressed the judging panel with their high quality submissions of poetry, prose and non-fiction works. 

See our Book of Thanks

by Rhian Waller | Friday, 03rd December 2021

"Donations came from the UK, from Spain and Scandinavia, and from Australia, the USA and South America. It was truly a global response."

Rhian's Read-a-thon

by Rhian Waller | Wednesday, 01st December 2021

"As the building I’m staying in is Victorian Gothic and all decked out for Christmas, I would love to have some classic stories from the 1900s and earlier on my list..."

Gladfest is back and online

by Rhian Waller | Wednesday, 11th August 2021

Gladfest, the UK’s friendliest festival, is back.  

Tickets for Gladfest 2021, which features talks with writers like Sarah Perry (The Essex Serpent) and Katie Hale (My name is Monster), have gone on sale this week.  

This year the festival will be underpinned by both the normal and the new; most of the guest speakers are familiar faces, but Gladfest will be held live online for the first time. 

Writers in Residence Shortlist 2022

by Rhian Waller | Friday, 23rd July 2021

Gladstone’s Library is pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2022 Writers in Residence award.  

Every year, the UK’s only residential library, situated in Hawarden, hosts four authors as part of this highly competitive and prestigious award.  

Coronavirus Update

by Rhian Waller | Monday, 27th July 2020

It is with great sadness that we have had to close Gladstone’s Library and cancel our events, residencies and courses for the remainder of 2020. We very much look forward to happier times and to your visits in the future. During this period of closure, we are working on ways to keep our Gladstone’s Library community together through our online presence so please look out for updates and content from us over the coming months.  

Update from Gladstone's Library regarding Covid-19, Coronavirus

by Rhian Waller | Wednesday, 18th March 2020

Due to the escalation of the situation with Covid-19 Coronavirus and in line with government recommendations, reluctantly we have had to take the decision to close our doors to the public temporarily. We have done this because the safety of our staff and visitors is paramount to us. 

Record breaking year for Gladstone’s Library

by Rhian Waller | Saturday, 25th January 2020

2019 saw a record number of visitors welcomed to Gladstone’s Library. Over 13, 000 visitors came through the doors over the last 12 months to visit the Reading Rooms of north Wales' literary gem. 

Changes to bags in the Reading Rooms

by Rhian Waller | Friday, 29th November 2019

We have taken the decision that from January 2020, the size, type and number of bags which users can be bring into the Reading Rooms will be limited. Anyone working in the galleries will be limited to one laptop bag and one small rucksack or shoulderbag.

Hearth 2020 tickets now onsale

by Rhian Waller | 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.

Invitation: Friends festive coffee morning

by Rhian Waller | Friday, 08th November 2019

As the year draws to a close here at Gladstone’s Library and we begin our Christmas celebrations, we’d like to take the opportunity to welcome our Friends to a festive coffee morning on Thursday, 5th December from 10.30am. Your support has been invaluable this year so why not take the opportunity to escape your Christmas errands and enjoy a morning retreat at the Library with tea, coffee and festive treats.

Celebrating Libraries Week 7th - 12th October

by Rhian Waller | Tuesday, 08th October 2019

Happy Libraries Week!

From 7th to 11th October, libraries of all kinds across the country will be celebrating the valuable work we do and the valuable spaces and collections (and readers!) we look after.

De-accessioning in Stephen Gladstone Hall

by Rhian Waller | Tuesday, 09th July 2019

Gladstone’s Library is embarking on a 24-month deaccessioning project on a section of its collections. This is the first review of the Library’s collections since 2008-10. Collection use and user demographic has changed rapidly in the past five years and the Library now has collection use data which can help it make decisions.

Muriel Maufroy: Community book stall

by Rhian Waller | Friday, 05th July 2019

As many of you will know a dear friend of Gladstone's Library, Muriel Maufroy, passed away in 2017. Muriel's family kindly deposited much of Muriel's personal library to us, and many of the volumes have now been added to our collections for the benefit of all.

Notice: May Bank Holidays

by Rhian Waller | Tuesday, 30th April 2019

Please be advised that on the May Bank Holidays (Monday, 6th & Monday, 27th May 2019) the Reading Rooms will be closed to all but residents and no Glimpses will be running.

Dragons at Gladstone’s Library!

by Rhian Waller | Monday, 11th March 2019

Here at Gladstone's Library we are preparing for dragons...

On Tuesday, 12th March Gladstone’s Library will play host to an evening with playwright and March Writer in Residence, Oliver Emanuel. Oliver will deliver a talk on the art of writing without words, something he achieved with his play Dragon, where a young boy grieving over the death of his mother struggles to find the words to express himself and instead finds solace in a 10-foot dragon.

Hearth 2019 lineup announced and tickets go onsale!

by Rhian Waller | Tuesday, 08th January 2019

We are delighted to announce the names of the four writers appearing at Hearth festival on Saturday, 2nd February. 

The intimate writing festival hosted our cosy common room offers keen writers the opportunity to pick up hints and tips, and ask questions of published authors about their experiences. It also encourages any with an interest in the world of books to find out more about the writing and publishing process. 

Do your bit in a Christmas knit!

by Rhian Waller | 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.

Gladfest is looking for volunteers!

by Rhian Waller | Friday, 10th August 2018

Gladstone’s Library has a thriving volunteer programme. Volunteers work in the Reading Rooms, help give tours, and tend to the gardens. Volunteers help us extend our team and broaden our skills.

Living Heritage Project shortlisted proposals revealed

by Rhian Waller | Thursday, 21st June 2018

Gladstone's Library and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is pleased to announce the four practices shortlisted to design a prestigious new building and re-develop the existing Grade I listed library and landscape.

ReaderPLUS – protecting Gladstone’s users for the future

by Rhian Waller | Tuesday, 15th May 2018

If you’ve visited Gladstone's Library in 2018, you might have noticed a change in the front corridor: new Reader Application forms! These grass-green beauties – very appropriate for spring – replace the well-known A4 Reader Form that every Reader will have completed at one time or another.

Your heritage our story: The History of North East Wales in 100 Objects

by Rhian Waller | Thursday, 26th April 2018

Gladstone’s Library is proud to have loaned items from its collections to the North East Wales Heritage Forum to contribute to their exhibition at Wrexham Museum. From the Mold cape to the Gop cairn, Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Welsh bible translations, castles, collieries and six of the ‘Seven Wonders of Wales’, North East Wales has an incredibly rich history which deserves to be celebrated, conserved and promoted.

The Gladstone's Library Uncommon Calendar of Prayer: we need your input!

by Rhian Waller | Monday, 20th November 2017

The current resident Chaplain of Gladstone’s Library in November 2017 is working on a project - compiling names, a list of saints and friends of God - to include in an Uncommon Calendar of Prayer for Chapel services.

You are invited to participate in this project by submitting names of persons who have inspired your life in a most positive and decisive way.

2018 events programme announced!

by Rhian Waller | 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.

Hearth interview: Krishan Coupland

by Rhian Waller | Friday, 20th October 2017

Krishan Coupland is a writer, editor and digital nomad. His debut collection of (very) short fiction, When You Lived Inside the Walls, was published by Stonewood Press in 2017. Other poems and stories have been published in Ambit, Aesthetica, Litro and elsewhere. In his spare time Krishan runs and edits Neon Literary Magazine. 

Interview: Genesis Redux with Lyn Bechtel

by Rhian Waller | Tuesday, 13th June 2017

Lyn Bechtel is a feminist Hebrew Bible scholar. 

Over the week of 26th – 30th June, Lyn leads a course at Gladstone’s Library entitled ‘Genesis Redux’. The course examines three disturbing stories from the Book of Genesis which represent a theology that is foundational to the theology of Jesus; Deuteronomic theology. These stories are Lot and his Daughters (Genesis. 19), Dinah and Shechem (Genesis. 34) and Tamar and Judah (Genesis. 38).

Volunteer at Gladfest!

by Rhian Waller | Tuesday, 06th June 2017

We are currently looking for a small team of Site Information Volunteers for our Gladfest literary festival which takes place at the Library 1st – 3rd September 2017.

Gladstone's Library in the New York Times!

by Rhian Waller | Monday, 08th May 2017

Gladstone's Library is delighted to have been featured in the New York Times (both online and in the physical paper!) in this wonderful piece about what Gladstone’s Library stands for. The title of the piece is ‘A Refuge for Liberal Values Beneath a Stern Victorian Gaze’...

Changes to Reading Room opening hours after 5pm

by Rhian Waller | Tuesday, 04th April 2017

We are delighted to announce that just under 11,000 people worked in the Reading Rooms in 2016! That’s more than ever before, the highest number we’ve yet recorded. Many of those working in the Reading Rooms are enjoying our collections: use of books, journals and archive material is going up year-on-year. User feedback indicates that you, like us, are delighted to be part of a thriving, bustling working environment.

2017 events programme announced!

by Rhian Waller | 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.

Give a gift which makes a difference this Christmas…

by Rhian Waller | Monday, 14th November 2016

Tired of buying gifts which are almost instantly cast aside or forgotten about?

How about giving a gift to a loved one which really makes a difference this Christmas?

The ongoing support of the many Friends of Gladstone's Library enables us to meet our day-to-day running costs and keep our beautiful library open and accessible to all.

Hearth tickets selling fast!

by Rhian Waller | Thursday, 13th October 2016

Tickets are selling fast for Hearth, the two-day micro-festival which returns to the Library Saturday, 29th - Sunday, 30th October with a wonderfully eclectic programme of speakers. 

Winner of the New Welsh Writing Awards 2016 announced!

by Rhian Waller | Friday, 08th July 2016

New Welsh Review has this week announced the winner of its New Welsh Writing Awards 2016: University of South Wales Prize for Travel Writing. The Prize celebrates the best short form travel writing from emerging and established writers based in the UK and Ireland; its judges New Welsh Review editor Gwen Davies and award-winning travel writer Rory MacLean.

Summer 2016 at Gladstone’s Library

by Rhian Waller | 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…

Gladstone’s Library’s Writers in Residence 2017 Shortlist Announced!

by Rhian Waller | Friday, 24th June 2016

Today Gladstone’s Library has revealed the names of the 10 writers shortlisted for its prestigious Writers in Residence award for 2017.

Now into its sixth year, Gladstone’s Library’s successful Writers in Residence programme was established in association with Damian Barr (saloniere and author of Maggie and Me) to explore and define liberal values in the twenty-first century.

Trustee Stella Duffy awarded OBE

by Rhian Waller | Friday, 17th June 2016

We are thrilled to offer our congratulations to 2012 Writer in Residence and Trustee, Stella Duffy, who has been awarded an OBE for Services to the Arts in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List! It is always a pleasure to work with Stella and we can think of few people more deserving of this award.

Learn a language in a week at Gladstone’s Library!

by Rhian Waller | Tuesday, 17th May 2016

Sound like a challenge?

Our range of residential language courses is designed for linguists of all abilities. Stay with us for a week in the beautifully tranquil surround of Gladstone’s Library, perfect for study, and leave able to translate and converse.

Queensferry roundabout closure 4th - 9th May

by Rhian Waller | Friday, 22nd April 2016

For any guests visiting us at the beginning of May 2016, please be aware that the Queensferry roundabout will be closed overnight on Wednesday, 4th May and from Friday evening to Monday morning 6th - 9th of May.

DemFest 2016: what not to miss!

by Rhian Waller | 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.  

Museums at Night: Democratic Readings

by Rhian Waller | 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!

2016 course highlights

by Rhian Waller | 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.

We're raring up for Hearth

by Rhian Waller | 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.

Gladfest 2015 social highlights

by Rhian Waller | Wednesday, 09th September 2015

Browse the fantastic selection of photographs and comments from across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram which chronicled the Gladfest weekend.

In Conversation with the Chair of Trustees, Michael Wheeler

by Rhian Waller | Friday, 03rd July 2015

Last month Gladstone’s Library welcomed in its new Chair of Trustees, Professor Michael Wheeler.

Just after his first Management Committee as Chairman, we talked to Michael to find out about his background, his involvement with the library over time and to get his first words as the new Chair “who just happens to have been around here for four decades…”

Chaplains at Gladstones Library

by Rhian Waller | Tuesday, 23rd September 2014

We are looking for Chaplains who are ‘inclusive’ in nature and ecumenical in spirit. The Library is host to clergy and laity of both sexes and from many traditions. It was Gladstone’

Our New Additions

by Rhian Waller | Friday, 17th August 2012

The Library has added several books to its collection and is also now subscribing to four new periodicals: 'New Statesman', 'Spectator', 'Economist', and 'Prospect'.

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